Okudaira Iki

2024/12/18

Image: Nakagane Masahira during his time at the Sain

"Okudaira is by no means a deep or cunning villain. He is merely a selfish, pampered son of a prestigious family who lacks wisdom and magnanimity." (Autobiography of Fukuzawa Yukichi, hereafter "Autobiography")

Okudaira Iki is one of the most memorable figures depicted in the Autobiography. This is because he is the person who, out of jealousy for Fukuzawa's growth while studying Dutch medicine in Nagasaki, used the "despicable scheme" of claiming his "mother's illness" to try and drive Fukuzawa out of Nagasaki. Why did Fukuzawa leave such an image of Iki for posterity? In the Autobiography, while evaluating Iki as a "talented scholar of Chinese classics," Fukuzawa disparages him as "narrow-minded," "Sarumatsu," a "selfish, pampered son of a prestigious family," and "lacking wisdom and magnanimity," yet at the end, he shows complex emotions, stating, "To tell the truth, it seems that I am even more to blame than Iki." Readers who have carefully read the Autobiography may have felt a sense of incongruity with the image of Iki depicted by Fukuzawa.

In issue 939 (1992) of Mita-hyoron (official monthly journal published by Keio University Press), a discussion titled "Fukuzawa Yukichi and Okudaira Iki" was published, featuring the late Professor Emeritus Nobuo Kawakita, former President Akira Haseyama, and the late Takehiko Nakagane, the great-grandson of Nakagane Masahira (Okudaira Iki). The Iki described in the article is a man of rich education and progressive ideas influenced by Fukuzawa's thought. It also concludes that after the Meiji Restoration, his relationship with Keio University affiliates was not that bad. What was the true image of Iki that Fukuzawa wanted to convey? I would like to re-examine this.

Iki was born into the Nakagane-Okudaira family, a high-ranking family of the Nakatsu domain with a stipend of 700 koku, where his grandfather Masana and father Masaaki also served as elders. His mother, Chiyo, is described in the "Genealogy" mentioned later as the "daughter of Nichizo of Kosen-ji Temple in Nagasaki." Fukuzawa started his studies in Nagasaki by taking advantage of that connection.

There are few historical materials tracing Iki's life. In fact, there is no clear record of his birth year. According to the aforementioned Mr. Nakagane, Iki's footsteps can be traced to some extent from Iki's diary "Tekisatsu Zokki" passed down in the Nakagane family, Okudaira's "Genealogy" and "Memorandum," as well as the "Goyosho Nikki" records left by the Yamazaki family (one of the 11 highest-ranking families in the Nakatsu domain), and Katsu Kaishu's "Kaishu Nikki," who had a connection with Iki. Based on these, Mr. Kawakita summarized Iki's movements in "A Study of the Autobiography of Fukuzawa Yukichi: Annotated Edition."

After completing his studies in Nagasaki, Iki performed public duties such as serving as an envoy for the enthronement of Emperor Komei. In 1857 (Ansei 4), 28 years after inheriting the family headship, he finally assumed the post of elder, and in 1861 (Bunkyu 1), he became the elder stationed in Edo. It was around this time that he began using the name "Iki."

Then, in 1863 (Bunkyu 3), a major incident occurred that shook the Nakatsu domain and Iki's life: the Petition Incident of the Year of the Boar (Bunkyu Sodo). It began when Iki, then the Edo elder, led a movement to adopt Gi-saburo (then 9 years old), the third son of Date Munenari, the lord of the Uwajima domain in Iyo, as the heir to the Nakatsu domain lord Masamoto. In response, dissatisfaction with Iki—who was of the Western studies and pro-opening faction—exploded among the lower-ranking samurai, where anti-foreign sentiment was rising. They slammed a petition against the national elder Okudaira Tosho, accusing Iki of plotting to change the domain lord and marry his own daughter to the next lord, thereby attempting to privatize the domain. In the petition, Iki was denounced in strong terms such as "prejudiced private opinion," "treacherous flatterer," "various wicked deeds," and "cunning schemes." Following this petition, Iki, who was in Kyoto with the domain lord Masamoto to guard the Shogun, was forced to return to Edo in haste.

In conclusion, as a result of this petition, Iki was removed from his post as elder and punished with a reduction of 200 koku from his stipend. On the other hand, the 15 ringleaders of the denunciation, including Nakatsu samurai Mizushima Rokube, were punished with "a reduction of 2 koku each, and those in service were further dismissed." The opening passage of "Tekisatsu Zokki" states, "In the first year of Keio, the year of Kinoto-Ushi, resigned stipend for a reason," and there is no doubt that this incident was the "reason" Iki decided to leave the domain. The contents of the petition and the domain's punishment not only deprived Iki and his family of their place in Nakatsu but also led to the tragedy where Iki's wife, "ashamed of this, committed ritual suicide (seppuku) on her own," a story passed down in the Nakagane family.

For Fukuzawa, for whom "the feudal system is the enemy of my parents," this "unprecedented major incident since ancient times" would seem to be something to be discussed at length. However, in "Kyuhanjo" (Conditions in the Old Domain), which addressed this, it appears to be described dispassionately. In the text, he positions the incident as having shaken the "immutable" class society, stating that "the spirit of the upper samurai showed signs of retreat, while the power of the lower samurai was gradually on the path of progress." On the other hand, he does not mention Iki by name, referring to him as "the elder in power at the time," and regarding the domain's punishment, he is sympathetic to the upper samurai Iki, stating that they "resorted to a makeshift measure, dismissing the administrator to appease the people for a time." Furthermore, he does not mention this incident at all in the Autobiography. Considering that Fukuzawa knew the circumstances in detail, one might think he could have mentioned it in the Autobiography.

Iki's whereabouts after his dismissal as elder are not well known. Iki's life, shrouded in mystery, has been gradually revealed through the "discovery" of "Tekisatsu Zokki."

The "Keio University History Dictionary" states that "he frequently visited Katsu Kaishu, perhaps in search of a government post," but in the "Kaishu Nikki," there are 43 entries related to Iki from 1865 (Genji 2) to 1871 (Meiji 4). Since Katsu accurately recorded Iki's name changes as seen in the "Genealogy," there is no doubt the two were close. Through Katsu, Iki approached the Satsuma domain, and the Satsuma domain likely valued Iki as a person skilled in gunnery and Western studies who had also served as an elder.

In 1865, Iki himself declined his stipend from the Nakatsu domain, and the following year, he was invited to the Satsuma residence in Edo as a "guest retainer" and moved there with his family. "Tekisatsu Zokki" was likely intended to record the circumstances of "going (teku) to Satsuma." At the end of that year, he was ordered to "retire and withdraw" by the Nakatsu domain, and it appears he broke with his past life by taking the name "Nakagane Masahira," as instructed: "The surname shall be called Nakagane."

However, despite having a connection with the Satsuma domain's high official Komatsu Tatewaki, he never entered the service of the Satsuma domain. The days of waiting after being ordered by the Satsuma domain to move from Kyoto to Osaka must have been uncomfortable. According to Hiroshi Hasegawa, who carefully analyzed "Tekisatsu Zokki," it is known that during this time, Masahira held active discussions with Ishikawa Kakutaro and Honma Gunbei, who created the "Sasshu Shosha," which is regarded as Japan's first joint-stock company. According to Hasegawa, the establishment of this "shosha" (trading company) was greatly influenced by the knowledge of Western "companies" introduced by Fukuzawa in Things Western (Seiyō Jijō) and other works (Hiroshi Hasegawa, "New Historical Materials: Okudaira Iki's 'Tekisatsu Zokki' and the Sasshu Shosha (1) — The Reality of the 'Age of Companies' for Fukuzawa Yukichi and Okudaira Iki").

It was the Matsuyama domain that saved Iki when he had nowhere to go in Osaka. "Tekisatsu Zokki" contains an entry from 1867 stating that he had "decided on Matsuyama." In fact, Okudaira Seiki, an elder of the Matsuyama domain, was thought to be a branch of the Wada family of the seven Okudaira clans, and it is believed that Iki was accepted through that connection. "Tekisatsu Zokki" simply records "Moved to Matsuyama" on November 7 of that year. There is also an anecdote that Iki was injured during an attack on Matsuyama by the Tosa domain.

In the Meiji era, Masahira's name appears among the junior officials of the Sain (Left Chamber) in the 1872 "Register of Government Officials." The following year, he became a fifth-grade councilor of the Sain and remained there until 1874 (Meiji 7). Mr. Nakagane states, "The circumstances of his service in the Sain are unknown, but there is a record of contact with 'Satsu/Ijichi' in the 'Zokki.' This might be Ijichi Masaharu, who became the Vice President of the Sain" (Takehiko Nakagane, "From Okudaira Iki to Nakagane Masahira: Okudaira Iki Memorandum No. 21," Fukuzawa Techo, No. 80).

In his later years, Masahira published a succession of works in various fields such as law, politics, and hygiene. Among them, Mr. Haseyama analyzed books mainly related to law, such as "Naigai Hozei Enkaku Ryaku" (Brief History of Domestic and Foreign Legal Systems). Mr. Haseyama highly evaluates Masahira, stating, "Nakagane's interest in legal history was extensive, and as an introductory book on legal history, it is extremely well-organized" (Akira Haseyama, "The Thought of Nakagane Masahira as Seen Through 'Naigai Hozei Enkaku Ryaku': From Okudaira Iki to Meiji Bureaucrat Nakagane Masahira"). He also points out that Masahira's views on government and taxation were strongly influenced by Fukuzawa's Things Western (Seiyō Jijō) and Gakumon no susume (An Encouragement of Learning).

In addition, two books, "Densenbyo Yoboho Kokoroegaki Shoenkai" and "Eisei Tebikigusa," were published by Keio University Press. "The Life of Fukuzawa Yukichi" describes how the publication came about through the friendship of Haisaku Iida, a Keio University alumni from Nakatsu. Iida published them without Fukuzawa's permission, but it is said that Fukuzawa did not reproach him.

Masahira passed away on May 9, 1884 (Meiji 17), about three years after his last publication. His grave is at Chozen-ji Temple (Sasa-dera) of the Soto sect in Yotsuya, Tokyo, where his father Masaaki and mother Chiyo also rest. Perhaps due to his connection with Keio University affiliates, a death notice was published in the Jiji Shinpo.

Finally, I would like to consider once again how Fukuzawa evaluated Iki and why he tried to show such an image of Iki in the Autobiography.

Naofusa Kuroya, a descendant of a high-ranking official of the Nakatsu domain, evaluated Iki in the "History of the Nakatsu Domain," stating, "Originally, Iki was well-versed in Japanese and Chinese learning, and in addition, he went to Nagasaki to study Dutch medicine, was skilled in gunnery, fond of poetry, adept at calligraphy and painting, loved curios, and appreciated bonsai; he was multi-talented with broad interests, and his political views and eloquence were not insignificant," calling him a "great figure since the Nakatsu era." Masafumi Tomita also evaluated Iki's leadership in the adoption of Gi-saburo in "Kōshō Fukuzawa Yukichi," stating, "This alliance could rather be called Iki's achievement." Fukuzawa likely held the same opinion. Furthermore, Mr. Hasegawa concludes, "Fukuzawa found the image of Okudaira Iki as a 'cunning' and 'wicked, treacherous' villain and great traitor, created and publicized by the 'Petition Incident of the Year of the Boar,' to be completely laughable; rather, Iki became a scapegoat for the Nakatsu domain's 'immoral' and 'makeshift measure' to 'appease the people for a time'" (Hasegawa, ibid.).

In the Autobiography, there are words such as "Regarding my relationship with Iki, there is something I can be proud of. That is (omitted) I have never fought with that person even for a moment," "If the other party was bad, I was also quite bad," and "To tell the truth, it seems that I am even more to blame than Iki." I realize that my past self, who accepted the superficial image of Iki without noticing Fukuzawa's hidden desire to clear Iki's excessive infamy, is the one who is truly "to blame."