内村鑑三의 죽음에 대한 인식 -2인칭의 죽음을 중심으로-

Abstract

This paper explores Uchimura Kanzō’s reflection on death which will lead tohis later belief in the Second Advent. In particular, this paper delves into thetragic death of two women whom Uchimura loved most - his second wifeKazuko and daughter Rutsuko - because his thought about death wascontinuously affected by this heartbreak incident. Uchimura was prostrate with grief after the death of his beloved second wifeKazuko. This sudden tragic experience, however, brought him a profoundunderstanding about his people and nation; and soon he was able to recoverfrom the abysmal sadness. His thought created during this bleak period waswell described in “When a Beloved One Passes Away”, the third chapter onThe Consolations of a Christian. Furthermore, the death of his daughter, Rutsuko, fundamentally influenced onhis thought about death. To Uchimura, Ruth’s death was also unbearablypainful in comparison to his earlier experience of losing his wife. However, inthe bottomless pain, he truly arrived at understanding of death. Watching herdaughter faded away, Uchimura became convinced that Jesus had called her. Heunderstood that Ruth went to a heavenly place and will wait for him until theday she reunites with her father. Therefore, he cited his experience ofwitnessing this peaceful rest of her soul as an evidence of Garden of Paradise. So he considered Ruth’s death as a joyful event because he strongly believedthat through death her purified spirit was ascended from her sinful flesh. Indeed, he saw her death as a salvation. To Uchimura, Rutsuko’s death was an abject horror and an excruciatingpain, but he eventually earned a new hope and a purified, absolute belief in God. His refection on death as a salvation deepened after the Rutsuko’s death. And this though will lead to his later belief of the Second Coming of theChrist.