Zen and Philosophy

Chapter 25. Finale: (1942–1945)

Chapter 25 Finale (1942–1945) During his convalescence Nishida followed the doctor’s advice to the letter, from daily shots to massage and dietary restrictions, for he had utter confidence in modern medicine. Because the muscles of his fingers were frozen so that he could hardly hold a pen, he spent a lot of time reading. He was drawn to scientific books such as Heisenberg’s quantum theory1 and Max Planck’s theory of causality.2 By the summer of 1942, when he had sufficiently recovered from his rheumatism to resume writing, it felt to him as if whatever he had read and thought during the last several months was waiting to be committed to the page. On July 5 he began “Chishiki no kyakkansei ni tsuite, aratanaru chishikiron no jiban” [On the objectivity of knowledge—the ground of new epistemology],3 an essay in which he addresses in one bold stroke the problems of natural scientific cognition, the differences between science and philosophy, and Eastern and Western philosophies. While Nishida was on his way to recovery, Yamamoto Ryökichi died on July 12 of a heart attack.4 Suzuki Daisetz remembered Nishida ’s response: How Nishida was saddened by Yamamoto’s death was too painful for anyone to see. The news of Yamamoto’s death reached both of us on a hot summer day. Since Nishida was not yet fully recovered, he was patiently waiting for me at his house. Unfortunately, it was extremely hot that day, and I waited until it had become tolerably cool in the early evening to call on him. When I got there, he rushed out of his room shouting, “Yamamoto is dead!” His expression, which I still recall to this day, was grave and painful. He remained devastated for a week. His frail physical condition did not help him recover from the shock easily.5 F i n a l e (1942 – 194 5) Nishida sent his message of condolence with Suzuki, who attended the school memorial service for Yamamoto held at Musashi Higher School on July 18: My dear friend, Yamamoto, you have been my closest friend for over fifty years. After I received the telegram in the early morning on the thirteenth informing me of your death, horrendous shock overtook me. Intense feelings seized my heart, and I lay flat in bed all day with an ice bag on my forehead. I can still see you clearly in my mind. Today, I wanted to come to bid farewell to your departing soul, but my body, weakened by illness, is not fit for travel. I wanted to write about you, but my grief-stricken heart would not let the pen move. Since last fall, I have not been well, and you were deeply concerned about my condition , but alas! you have departed before me! Ah, transience of life! How can anyone count on living to see the evening of the day!6 Yamamoto’s death and the hot humid summer of Kyoto were too much for Nishida. Concerned friends made an arrangement for him to stay at Höshun’in, on the grounds of Daitokuji temple. Tucked away in the greenery of northern Kyoto, Höshun’in offered him some respite. But worrisome news continued to flow in. On August 22 Harada Kumao fell unconscious from a stroke. Sotohiko, who had been fighting in the Pacific and was stationed in the Philippines, was suffering from dengue fever. Fortunately, Sotohiko soon recovered, was transferred to Taiwan by the end of September, and safely returned to Japan in late October. By October 1942 Nishida was able to lead a fairly normal life, although he was no longer able to take the long brisk walks that he enjoyed so much. He received former students and colleagues who came to visit him every day. Even Tanabe Hajime called on him unexpectedly . Since Nishida felt well enough to travel, he and Koto left for Kamakura on October 21. On November 3 Iwanami Shigeo threw a grand Thanksgiving reception, commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of his business, and invited some five hundred guests. Nishida’s health did not permit him to attend so large a social event, but he sent a congratulatory message.7 The evening was dubbed “the last supper for the liberals,” for not only was this kind of luxury no longer really possible in the face of the war effort but liberal thinkers were fast losing their platform from which to...