Zen and Philosophy

Chapter 19. Remarriage and Nishida's View of Women: (1927–1931)

Chapter 19 Remarriage and Nishida’s View of Women (1927–1931) Nishida’s biggest concern around the time of his retirement was the future of his three daughters, Shizuko, Tomoko, and Umeko. “I have three daughters, all graduated from women’s higher school, and the oldest is already twenty-three. I truly would like to see them married ,”1 he wrote to a former student. He felt a heavy responsibility for his daughters, especially now that Kotomi was no longer by his side. His waka reveals how he felt in the face of what seemed like a daunting task: There are many things one should not have in this world but at the top of the list are daughters 2 He remembered how complicated it was just to arrange Yayoi’s marriage —and at that time Kotomi was there. Nishida turned to his close friends, colleagues, and former students for help. Half mocking himself, he wrote to Hisamatsu: Girls are different from boys in that their fate is largely determined by their parents’ decisions—although it is true that even when we make a decision that we think is best for them, it may turn out to be the wrong one, and again, we are dealing with life and don’t know what tomorrow will bring. For this reason, I want to give them all my love. To this end, sometimes my thoughts run before reality, sometimes I mull things over too much, and sometimes I’m at a loss. Well, after expending all my human follies, when I calmly reflect, I cannot help but laugh at myself. Remarriage and Nishida’s View of Women (1927–1931) I suppose that water flows to where it flows, and human affairs take their own course. But just as the water does not always flow without making a whirl, this kind of quandary may be viewed as a beautiful pattern on the flow of human life.3 Former students who were consulted on this matter included Hisamatsu, Yamanouchi Tokuryü, Miyake Göichi (graduate of 1919, then teaching at Töhoku Imperial University), Kösaka Masaaki (graduate of 1923), Kimura Motomori (graduate of 1923, then teaching at Hiroshima University of Arts and Sciences), and Katsube Kenzö (graduate of 1914, then teaching at Hiroshima Higher Normal School). Old friends and their families were all behind Nishida to help. Tanabe Hajime’s wife, Chiyo, Yamamoto Ryökichi’s wife, Kiku, and the widowed Mrs. Höjö Masaki each volunteered to have Nishida’s daughter (s) stay at their homes and to teach them homemaking and other refinements such as the arts of flower arrangement and tea ceremony, expected of well-bred young women. Thanks to Ide Takashi, a junior colleague of Kuwaki Gen’yoku, the engagement of Umeko to Kaneko Takezö, then a lecturer of philosophy at Tokyo Imperial University, was arranged in April 1929. Umeko was still a student at Tokyo Women’s College at that time.4 Tomoko had recovered from a life-threatening illness and grew up into a young woman of average health, but she was mentally fragile. Nishida thought “a man of warm heart, who could support her financially ,” would be best for her.5 Eventually, through the good offices of Suzuki Daisetz, Kobayashi Zentei, an artist, showed interest in Tomoko, and they were married on October 19, 1930 (the marriage, however, did not last for more than a year, and Tomoko returned home). Shizuko, who had lung trouble, wanted to put off marriage for some time and instead concentrate on her painting. Nishida consented to her wish. Meanwhile, Yamamoto Ryökichi and his wife, Kiku, brought up the subject of remarriage to Nishida in November 1929, when he traveled to Tokyo. The Yamamotos had in mind a professor of mathematics . The idea intrigued Nishida, and he talked about it with Iwanami when they went to Nikko the following day. Iwanami understood Nishida’s passionate, romantic side,6 and took a personal interest in finding the right woman for him. Nishida made up his mind to pursue the possibility of remarriage but sought more a woman of warmth and feelings than a woman of mere common sense.7 He wrote to Yamamoto in December: 235 Remarriage and Nishida’s View of Women (1927–1931) I’ve given much thought to the matter. If there is truly an ideal woman, that should constitute my supreme happiness. For...