内村鑑三의 죽음에 대한 인식(2) - 1인칭의 죽음을 중심으로 -

Abstract

This paper delves deeply into Uchimura Kanzō’s mature reflection on his own death. In order to illustrate his thought on death, this work specifically focuses on his last year as his fragile body had confined in a sickbed. Following the chronological order, this paper explores Uchimura’s diaries and letters. The thread of Uchimura’s thought which especially developed in the final decade of his life is based on his strong belief in a life after death, and, that precipitates his thought on the Second Coming of Christ. Because of his unswerving belief of salvation, he was able to overcome the tragic death of his loved ones. In the lieu of his consideration on death of others, this paper elucidates how he manages to his own death. In the imminent moment of his own death, Uchimura had no doubt on the afterlife, and he firmly believed that he will ascend to the heavenly place where his loyalty to God is finally actualized. Uchimura tried to maintain his strong stance on salvation, however, his diaries and letters also showed his fragile, conflicted mind which had been aggravated and tormented by the illness along with the absolute horror of his own death. However, as he embraced his own death, his attitude towards death had no difference that of his experience of death of his loved ones. As a Christian, he strongly believes the glory of the afterlife. With the last breath, the extraordinary thinker also let out a “Banzi” and this episode indicates his unshakable faith on his motherland and humanity. Uchimura’s resolute and firm attitude toward his own death represents his unwavering faith in God; and it also clearly demonstrates that he, as a visionary thinker, lives by his own word even at the moment as his own death has approached.