Burns in the Meiji Era Influence

Abstract

It was high time for the Meiji people to get rid of feudalism continued for 300 years under the severe pressure of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Mugen Ohara issued Burns's works selected in book form in the 39th year of the Meiji Era (1849 A. D., the ensuing year of Russo-Japanese War victorious.) And that all the people were taught a school song 'Hotaru' (Firefly) as parody of 'Auld Lang Syne' of the great Bard. Therefore, we were, whether conscious or unconscious, in touch with the spirit of Burns.Burns philosophy became latent embryo to the coming Taisho Democracy.