Long Live Humanity: The Light of Mushanokoji Saneatsu

Long live humanity - the light of Mushanokoji Saneatsu

Introduction

"Humans are beautiful"
There was a man who tried to prove this not only through literature but also through his way of life.
Mushanokoji Saneatsu - founder of the Shirakaba school, idealist, poet, and painter.
His gaze was as straight as a birch trunk and emitted a soft light.

Shirakaba School and Idealism

In 1910, he founded the literary magazine Shirakaba together with Shiga Naoya, Arishima Takeo, and others.
Saneatsu believed in "human dignity," "the power of art," and "an ideal society," and portrayed these through his literature.

・Masterpieces: "Friendship," "The Good Shepherd," "Long Live Humanity," etc. ・Ideological background: Humanism and individualism influenced by Tolstoy ・Characteristics of writing style: Free-spirited, frank, and warm-hearted narrative

New Village: Living the Ideal

In 1918, he founded "Atarashiki Mura" in Miyazaki Prefecture.
Aiming to create an ideal world where art and agriculture coexisted, they practiced communal living beyond class and competition.

・Philosophy: "It's okay for people to be different. A society where we accept our differences and help each other."
・Activities: Farming, creative writing, education, publishing, etc. carried out within the village ・Current: Moved to Saitama Prefecture, and still continues to be active

The village's philosophy can be said to be a pioneer of the folk art movement and sustainable living.

Saneatsu's paintings: kindness beyond words

In his later years, Saneatsu produced many watercolors and colored paper paintings.
The paintings contain more warmth and encouragement than words can ever convey.

・"Friendship is a beautiful thing"
"Human, believe"
・"Have love and hope"

These words and images provide a poetic space that is perfect for w's blog.

Saneatsu and the words of the seasons

Saneatsu's works subtly depict the changing of the seasons and dialogue with nature.
For example, in "Friendship," the light of spring and the stillness of autumn overlap with the feelings of the characters, leaving a lingering impression like the names of colors or seasonal words.

Conclusion: Reading Jitsutatsu Now

Mushanokoji Saneatsu was a man of letters, a thinker, and a man of life.
His words still give us the courage to believe in humanity and the power to envision our ideals.