Note 3
Translator's Preface_ 1875, At the Crossroads of Revolution and Civilization 6
Translator's Note 15

Preface 71
Volume 1
Chapter 1: Determining the Main Point of Discussion 87
Chapter 2: The Purpose of Western Civilization 108
Chapter 3: Discussing the Essence of Civilization 163
Volume 2
Chapter 4: Discussing the Wisdom and Virtue of a Nation's People 193
Chapter 5 Continuation of the Previous Discussion 233
Volume 3
Chapter 6: The Distinction Between Wisdom and Virtue 267
Volume 4
Chapter 7: Discussing the Time and Place Where Wisdom and Virtue Can Be Practiced 337
Chapter 8: The Origins of Western Civilization 373
Volume 5
Chapter 9: The Origins of Japanese Civilization 401
Volume 6
Chapter 10: Discussing National Independence 485

Reference 541

Appendix 1_Yukichi Fukuzawa Chronology 553
Appendix 2: Genealogy of Emperors 556
Appendix 3: Key Chronological Tables of Modern Japanese History (1853–1911) 569
Appendix 4-1_Netherlands Books Mentioned in the Nanhak Gyeje (1783) 573
Appendix 4-2_Current Status of Western Translations Mentioned in 『Nanghak Sashi』 (1815) 576
Appendix 5: Book Classification System and List of Western Translations in 『Translation and Reading Method』(1883) 580
Appendix 6_Yang Hyeon-dang List of Books (1868) Status 586

Search 589

The famous book, “An Outline of a Theory of Civilization,” by Yukichi Fukuzawa, featured on the Japanese 10,000 yen note, has been fully translated and published.


It is true that Yukichi Fukuzawa, the founder of Keio University, a prestigious Japanese university, the first president of the Japanese Academy of Sciences, and ranked 7th among the “most respected people in Japan,” is only known in Korea as an aggressor who advocated for the Seikanron.
However, this book is so essential for understanding not only Yukichi Fukuzawa but also modern Japan that any evaluation of him would be meaningless without understanding 『Outline of a Theory of Civilization』.


In 1875, when 『Outline of a Theory of Civilization』 was published, Japan was truly at the crossroads of revolution and civilization.
In such a tense and chaotic situation, Yukichi Fukuzawa resolutely rejects the methods of the Todoshoki.
He argued that in order to establish a new, independent nation, it was necessary to actively embrace not only Western technology, but also Western ideas, culture, and above all, the concepts of 'freedom' and 'independence.'
His argument, which emphasized the independent and self-reliant individual and called for a political and ideological transition from the feudal system to a modern state system, had a great influence on Joseon reformers such as Kim Ok-gyun, Seo Jae-pil, and Yun Chi-ho, and it cannot be denied that it was a major step forward for Japan toward modernization.


This book is based on the original 『Outline of a Theory of Civilization』 by Yukichi Fukuzawa, which shaped modern Japanese thought. It accurately preserves the Chinese character translations (new Chinese language) of Western concepts from the early Meiji period that cannot be found in modern Japanese translations, and vividly translates Yukichi Fukuzawa's unique writing style and sentence style.
Not only does it reflect the research results of Japanese researchers on Fukuzawa Yukichi, but it also includes abundant annotations on Eastern and Western classics cited by Fukuzawa, the meaning between the lines, and historical anecdotes.
The annotations in this book alone clearly demonstrate the painstaking efforts of modern Japanese intellectuals of the time, including Yukichi Fukuzawa, to understand Western ideas, values, social structure, and operating principles.


It is safe to say that 『Outlines of Civilization』 is the only book that most deeply reflected on Western history, culture, and thought in East Asia in the 1800s.
This book is the first and most systematic presentation of Western modern values—liberty, republic, and independence—to the East, in order to achieve long-term, sustained national development, in other words, to guarantee individual freedom and creativity.
This book is crucial not only for understanding Yukichi Fukuzawa, but also for understanding modern Japanese history and the history of modern Japanese thought. It will be of great help to domestic readers interested in modern Japanese history since the Meiji period, the history of modern thought, and the history of modern concepts in East Asia, as well as those studying Yukichi Fukuzawa.