Rediscovering Musha-ism: the theory of happiness in the early works of Mushakōji Saneatsu

Abstract

Akutagawa Ryfinosuke (1892-1927), despite being one of the "darkest" voices in modem Japanese literature, admired Mushakoji's literature. When the White Birch School was established, men of letters from other schools mocked its members saying, "What can the spoiled sons of the aristocracy achieve in literary circles? People even made fun of them by anagramming the name of the school "Shirakaba" to "bakarashi" (ridiculous). Moreover, they were famously criticized by Naturalists, the mainstream writers of the time, as "having been born with silver spoons in their mouths."l0 In such an adverse wind for the White Birch School, Akutagawa was one of the few people who stood up for Mushakoji's literature. "Mr. Mushakoji flung open a skylight, admitting fresh air into the oppressive atmosphere of the literary circles," he said. Indeed, Mushakoji's emphasis on happiness and positive egotism brought a new trend to Taisho literature. And perhaps this was something only those born with silver spoons in their mouths could possibly achieve. Mushakoji was able to reach the "skylight" because of his "high" birth as the son of a duke. Rephrasing Akutagawa's famous pronouncement, I hope to "fling open a skylight" on the writings of Mushakoji Saneatsu, which have languished in the shadows of scholarly neglect, and reveal Musha-ism, his theory of happiness.