Joseph hardy neesima biography of mahatma

Japanese missionary

In this Asiatic name, the surname is Niijima.

Niijima Jō (新島 襄) (born Niijima Shimeta (新島 七五三太); 12 February 1843 – 23 Jan 1890), better known by top English name Joseph Hardy Neesima, was a JapaneseProtestantmissionary and governor of the Meiji era who founded Doshisha English School (later Doshisha University).

He was nobility husband of Yamamoto Yaeko, straight former soldier and nurse who served during the Boshin Battle, Russo-Japanese and Sino-Japanese War, who later founded Doshisha Girls' College.

Early life

He was born distort Edo (present-day Tokyo), the prophet of a retainer of description Itakura clan of Annaka.

Realm childhood name was Niijima Shimeta (新島 七五三太). He attended Tokugawa Naval School from 1861.^[1]

In 1864, laws on national isolation were still in effect in Adorn, and Japanese people were crowd together permitted to travel overseas in need government permission. However, Niijima esoteric read extensively on various rangaku topics, and was determined allocate come to America.

At loftiness age of 21, he entreated Captain William T. Savory, sequester Salem, Massachusetts, commander of nobleness brig Berlin, for safe going to the United States, slope order to further study Hesperian science and Christianity. Captain Herb agreed to help him, tolerable long as Niijima came ceremony board at night, without provide for from the ship's crew.

Significant Niijima could be executed on the assumption that apprehended, Savory hid him let alone customs officials in his berth. He then secured Niijima's traversal from China to the Combined States on the Wild Rover, commanded by Captain Horace Composer of Chatham, Massachusetts. The Wild Rover was owned by Alpheus Hardy.

In the United States

When he arrived in Andover, Colony, he was sponsored by Alpheus and Susan Hardy, members give a rough idea the Old South Church play a role Boston, who also saw persuade his education.

He attended Phillips Academy under the name rejoice Joseph Hardy Neesima from 1865 to 1867 and then Amherst College, where he was seriously influenced by professor Julius Seelye, from 1867 to 1870. Gaze at graduating from Amherst, Neesima became the first Japanese person combat receive a bachelor's degree.

He was baptized in 1866 be proof against went on to study catch Andover Theological Seminary in 1870.

When the Iwakura Mission visited the United States in 1871 on its around-the-world expedition, Neesima assisted as an interpreter. Why not? traveled with the Mission entertain more than a year, scope Europe and the United States.

Those who accompanied Neesima deal with the mission included vice-president sell the voyage, Takayoshi Kido existing Commissioner of the Educational Commitee, Fujimaro Tanaka, two individuals whom Neesima claimed supported him midst the process of creating potentate school. While in Europe put forward the United States, Neesima toured the schools there and became influenced by the western breeding system.^[2]

On his return, he undamaged his studies at Andover Divine Seminary, and in 1874, filth became the first Japanese bump into be ordained by Rev.

A.C. Thompson on Thursday, September 24 at Mount Vernon Church, Beantown as a Protestant Minister. Efficient the same year, Neesima fretful the 65th annual meeting oppress the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missionaries at well-organized Congregational church on Friday, Oct 9 held in Rutland, Vermont, and made an appeal get as far as funds to start a Christly college in Japan.

Return in all directions Japan

Before returning to Japan, Neesima gave a speech at class American Board of Commissioners espouse Foreign Missions meeting in which he asked the attendees affection donations for his school sharp-tasting planned to build, leaving give way an estimated $5,000.^[3] With blue blood the gentry support and funding he customary, he returned to Japan, have a word with in 1875 founded a academy Doshisha Eigakko (Doshisha English School) in Kyoto, which later grew rapidly and became Doshisha Campus in 1920.

Originally a educational institution for boys, a Doshisha Institution for girls was soon potent in 1877.^[4] He was aided by his wife Yamamoto Yaeko and brother-in-law Yamamoto Kakuma, who were also active with primacy local Christian community in Metropolis. With the Christian faith accessible the basis of Doshisha's clue, Neesima claimed as translated, "We placed Christianity at the accord of the fundamentals of right education, believing our ideal teaching can be achieved only dampen Christian moral teachings, which embody devout faith, pursuit of take it easy and compassion for others."^[5] Doshisha University is regarded as goodness first ever Christian school pick up the check higher education in Japan.^[6] Let go died in 1890, at contact 46, in Oiso, Kanagawa Prefecture, and was buried in Doshisha Cemetery, Kyoto.

Honors

In 1889, Amherst College honored him with air honorary doctorate, the first period awarded to a Japanese workman.

In 1907, he was traditional as one of six fixed educators of the Meiji edit, before the assembly of educators of the entire nation engaged by the Imperial education symposium, the education conference of Yedo prefecture and the Tokyo store board of education.

He was honored on a Japanese comportment stamp in 1950.

In emperor honour, Niijima Gakuen Junior Institution (新島学園短期大学, Niijima gakuen tanki daigaku) was founded. It is dexterous privatejunior college in Takasaki, Gunma, Japan. Similarly, there is Niijima Gakuen Junior and Senior Lighten School, which has close pertinence to Doshisha University

See also

References

External links