To Independent: Fukuzawa Study Ideological Education

Fukuzawa Yukichi (1835-1901), famous educator and enlightenment thinker in Japan, engaged his life in ideological writings and educational practice.He strongly criticized the traditional feudal thinking and actively publicized western advanced civilization, known as " teacher of Japanese ".His masterpiece,"Quan Xue Pian" is household in Japan, and "An Outline of A Theory of Civilization " sketched out a blueprint of independent education to learn western civilization. Keio University he created was the first private university in Japan, where he trained a large number of urgent needed practical talents.Fukuzawa Yukichi’s education thought and practice always carry out independent self-esteem thinking. He viewed the western civilization as the only way to achieve independence of Japan and persuaded the Japanese people to accept western civilization and learn mathematical science by writing, in order to develop independent spirit, and ultimately the entire nation’s independence. He had firm belief in independence and the proficient teaching skills as well as teaching venues everywhere, left a brilliant performance in the history of education in Japan.This paper attempts to research Fukuzawa Yukichi from the view of the independent educational thought. The first chapter is to introduce the macro background on education in the Meiji era and the Edo period. Through the personal life experience, including his life important story outline and shaping process of independent personality, the author analyzes formation process of his education thought.The second chapter is to elaborate Fukuzawa Yukichi’s educational purposes which is to be independent by learning western civilization and educational content, including the tangible mathematical and developing intangible spirit of independence. The third chapter is to discuss its educational practice, including the establish and development of Keio, and has a detailed analysis of educational content, management and outcomes in Keio. The fourth chapter is to discuss the important impact of Fukuzawa Yukichi’s education thought on modern education in Japan and China. The final chapter analysis thinking of constructing the independent personality embodied in Fukuzawa Yukichi’s education thought and reflections on independent personality construction combined with contemporary situation on Chinese education.