Fukuzawa Yukichi’s Monarchy And Walter Bagehot’s English Constitution

Fukuzawa was an enlightenment thinker who have played an irreplaceable role forJapan`s civilization and political modernization. The research of his idea is valuable tounderstand the Japanese monarchy. This thesis is mainly discussing how “the EnglishConstitution” to influence the political thought of Fukuzawa. This thesis is using themethod of full text comparative politics, focuses on his viewpoint of monarchy formationand evolution process.Through the research on this problem, the thought of his generation can beunderstood theoretically more objective and comprehensive, development and change ofthe process. With the early works which including some introduction of the westernpolitical ideas, he has been held a positive attitude towards the British political system.He hopes that by using the English advanced system, transplanting western politicalcivilization, to help the construction of Japan modernization.His viewpoint of monarchy was changed with the domestic situation of Japan. Thisthesis is based on his book as the core, combined with the historical background tointroduce his viewpoint of monarchy.This paper discusses three aspects: why he selective absorption the viewpoint ofWalter Bagehot, the comparison of Walter Bagehot and Fukuzawa, and the developmentof Walter Bagehot’s viewpoint of monarchy by Fukuzawa. They all think that thesovereign should be detached from politics. Their ideas for the role of the sovereign arethe same. The sovereign is able to rally the national spirit, ease social conflicts, maintainnational political stability, and lead the social moral emotions.