Summary

   It is a book written by Fukuzawa Yukichi. He wrote his ideas in 17 booklets from 1872 to 1876, and later that they were edited in one book. Especially the first phrase in the beginning is famous, "God says that he does not create people above or under other people." He recommended people to learn practical science, explained the relationship between liberty or equality that belong to people and its limitations, mentioned about the liberty of individuals and the liberty of nations, and emphasized the importance of studying.
   His prose in this book was perhaps too radical, because he enthusiastically tried to break down the old system of Japan (feudalistic Confucianism), and it was sometimes criticized. However, in general, his book was welcomed as it easily explained the new style of teaching clearly. A large number of copies have been published; the first edition had 200,000, and the total number of copies reached 3,400,000, which shows what a great influence he had on people.
   (source: Encyclopedia Britannica International)

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