Imperial Rescript denying divinity
"We" addresses "Our people" instead of "Our subjects"
By William Wetherall
First posted 1 June 2007
Last updated 1 January 2008
Hirohito did not deny his divinity
Contrary to what many people have been led to believe (and are still being told in both Japanese and English on the websites of institutions like the National Diet Library), Hirohito did not deny his divinity. He did not have to, because he never claimed to be divine.
What Hirohito really denied
What Hirohito said -- in what is popularly called his "declaration of humanity" (人間宣言 ningen sengen, "human declaration") -- was that the bonds between himself and his people were ageless and real -- not based on myth or legend, and not based on the fictitious notion that holds tenno to be manifest gods (aka "living gods") -- among other notions.
In other words, Hirohito denied the credibility of a belief regarding tenno in general, not just himself.
Not only did Hirohito say nothing about himself, but he was speaking more generally of a set of ficticious notions that included holding the Japanese people to be a superior race with a mission to control the world. And all this was in the context of assuring his "people" (kokumin) -- no longer "subjects" -- that the bonds between him and them stemmed from mutual trust and esteem, not myth or legend.
Hirohito's declaration of popular sovereignty
Declaring that the notions of a divine emperor, superior race, and mission of global control were ficticious was esceedingly important, coming from Hirohito's mouth and over his seal. Yet just arguably more important were his references -- throughout the rescript -- to 日本國民 (Nihon kokumin) and 國民 (kokumin) -- rather than 日本臣民 (Nippon shinmin) and 臣民 (shinmin).
Not only did Hirohito's breaking with conventions of the Meiji Constitution anticipate those of the new constitution. But if dismissing the idea that tenno are manifest gods as "ficticious" was a denial of his divinity, then calling Japanese nationals "the people" rather than "subjects" was a tacit declaration that they -- no longer he -- had sovereignty.
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1 January 1946 Imperial Rescript With two English versions and commentary |
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Japanese textThe Japanese text is a reformated version of the transcript posted by the National Diet Library in its digital exhibition on Constitution Day of May 2003 at 日本憲法の誕生 (Birth of Constitution of Japan). The transcript has been checked against an NDL image (056-001) of the rescript as published by the Printing Bureau of the Ministry of Finance in the 1 January 1946 extra edition of the Official Gazette (官報號外、昭和二十一年一月一日). All major newspapers in Japan also carried the text in their New Year editions. The paragraphing, punctuation, voicing, and most other orthographic features are as shown in the Official Gazette edition. I have restored as many contemporary characters as possible to the NDL text, which uses present-day characters. The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) website features the main body of the text but some of the paragraphing is different, and not all the older characters are shown. Moreover, where the OG version has 焦躁 and 方途, the MEXT version has 焦燥 and 方策 English translationsThe received translation is shown to the right of the Japanese text. Structural translations of selected parts of the Japanese text are shown below these two texts. Received translationThe received "official" version was published in The Nippon Times, now The Japan Times, on 1 January 1946. The text was transcribed from the following publication.
Structural translationThe structural translations, shown between the Japanese text and the received English version, are mine. As always, my purpose in structural translation to put the Japanese text into English that, as far as possible, stays as within the limits of Japanese phrasing and metaphors -- i.e., push the limits of linguistic mapping -- while highlighting the usage of selected expressions. The received version is obviously something contrived to meet the demands of readers of English. On major points it is not that bad, and in this repsect it served its purpose. One imagines a few readers of Japanese also read the English, possibly to better understand what they may have had some difficulty reading in Japanese. Readers of Japanese would have been able to get the drift of the rescript, even if they didn't appreciate the finer structures. The language of the rescript is even more alien to readers of Japanese today, yet most educated readers of Japanese today would be able to understand the main points. Highlighting and commentaryIn the Japanese text, and in both English versions, I have marked expressions of particular interest, which are inconsistently translated in the received version, in bold blue and bold red.
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| 詔書 (官報) (Official Gazette) |
Imperial Rescript (The Nippon Times) |
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茲ニ新年ヲ迎フ。顧ミレバ明治天皇明治ノ初國是トシテ五箇條ノ御誓文ヲ下シ給ヘリ。曰ク、 一、廣ク會議ヲ興シ萬機公論ニ決スヘシ 一、上下心ヲ一ニシテ盛ニ經綸ヲ行フヘシ 一、官武一途庶民ニ至ル迄各其志ヲ遂ケ人心ヲシテ倦マサラシメンコトヲ要ス 一、舊来ノ陋習ヲ破リ天地ノ公道ニ基クヘシ 一、智識ヲ世界ニ求メ大ニ皇基ヲ振起スヘシ |
In greeting the new year we recall to mind that Emperor Meiji proclaimed as the basis of our national policy, the five clauses of the charter Oath at the beginning of the Meiji era. The charter oath signified: (1) Deliberative assemblies shall be established and all measures of government decided in accordance with public opinion. (2) All classes high and low shall unite in vigorously carrying out the affairs of State. (3) All common people, no less than the civil and military officials, shall be allowed to fulfill their just desires, so that there may not be any discontent among them. (4) All the absurd usages of old shall be broken through and equity and justice to be found in the workings of nature shall serve as the basis of action. (5) Wisdom and knowledge shall be sought throughout the world for the purpose of promoting the welfare of the Empire. |
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叡旨公明正大、又何ヲカ加ヘン。朕ハ茲ニ誓ヲ新ニシテ國運ヲ開カント欲ス。須ラク此ノ御趣旨ニ則リ、舊来ノ陋習ヲ去リ、民意ヲ暢達シ、官民擧ゲテ平和主義ニ徹シ、教養豐カニ文化ヲ築キ、以テ民生ノ向上ヲ圖リ、新日本ヲ建設スベシ。 |
The proclamation is evident in significance and high in its ideals. We wish to make this oath anew and restore the country to stand on its own feet again. We have to reaffirm the principles embodied in the charter and proceed unflinchingly towards elimination of misguided practices of the past; and, keeping in close touch with the desires of the people, we will construct a new Japan through thoroughly being pacific, the officials and the people alike obtaining rich culture and advancing the standard of living of the people. |
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大小都市ノ蒙リタル戦禍、罹災者ノ艱苦、産業ノ停頓、食糧ノ不足、失業者増加ノ趨勢等ハ眞ニ心ヲ痛マシムルモノアリ。然リト雖モ、我國民ガ現在ノ試煉ニ直面シ、且徹頭徹尾文明ヲ平和ニ求ムルノ決意固ク、克ク其ノ結束ヲ全ウセバ、獨リ我國ノミナラズ全人類ノ爲ニ、輝カシキ前途ノ展開セラルルコトヲ疑ハズ。 |
The devastation of the war inflicted upon our cities the miseries of the destitute, the stagnation of trade, shortage of food, and the great and growing number of the unemployed are indeed heart-rending; but if the nation is firmly united in its resolve to face the present ordeal and to seek civilization consistently in peace, a bright future will undoubtedly be ours, not only for our country but for the whole humanity. |
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夫レ家ヲ愛スル心ト國ヲ愛スル心トハ我國ニ於テ特ニ熱烈ナルヲ見ル。今ヤ實ニ此ノ心ヲ擴充シ、人類愛ノ完成ニ向ヒ、献身的努カヲ効スベキノ秋ナリ。 |
Love of the family and love of country are especially strong in this country. With more of this devotion should we now work toward love of mankind. |
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惟フニ長キニ亘レル戰爭ノ敗北ニ終リタル結果、我國民ハ動モスレバ焦躁ニ流レ、失意ノ淵ニ沈淪セントスルノ傾キアリ。詭激ノ風漸ク長ジテ道義ノ念頗ル衰へ、爲ニ思想混亂ノ兆アルハ洵ニ深憂ニ堪ヘズ。 |
We feel deeply concerned to note that consequent upon the protracted war ending in our defeat our people are liable to grow restless and to fall into the slough of despond. Radical tendencies in excess are gradually spreading and the sense of morality tends to lose its hold on the people, with the result that there are signs of confusion of thoughts. |
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然レドモ朕ハ爾等國民ト共ニ在リ、常ニ利害ヲ同ジウシ休戚ヲ分タント欲ス。朕ト爾等國民トノ間ノ紐帯ハ、終始相互ノ信頼ト敬愛トニ依リテ結バレ、單ナル神話ト傳説トニ依リテ生ゼルモノニ非ズ。天皇ヲ以テ現御神（アキツミカミ）トシ、且日本國民ヲ以テ他ノ民族ニ優越セル民族ニシテ、延テ世界ヲ支配スベキ運命ヲ有ストノ架空ナル觀念ニ基クモノニモ非ズ。 |
We stand by the people and we wish always to share with them in their moments of joys and sorrows. The ties between us and our people have always stood upon mutual trust and affection. They do not depend upon mere legends and myths. They are not predicated on the false conception that the Emperor is divine, and that the Japanese people are superior to other races and fated to rule the world. |
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Structural translationNaturally I shall be together with all ye nationals, and will desire always to share gains and losses and likewise joys and sorrows. The bonds between me and all ye nationals have constantly been tied by mutual trust and esteem, and are not simply something engendered by myths and legends. Nor are [they] something based on ficticious notions which hold tenno to be manifest gods, and hold Japan nationals to be a race superior to other races and to have the mission of controlling the world.
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朕ノ政府ハ國民ノ試煉ト苦難トヲ緩和センガ爲、アラユル施策ト經營トニ萬全ノ方途ヲ講ズベシ。同時ニ朕ハ我國民ガ時艱ニ蹶起シ、當面ノ困苦克服ノ爲ニ、又産業及文運振興ノ爲ニ勇往センコトヲ希念ス。我國民ガ其ノ公民生活ニ於テ團結シ、相倚リ相扶ケ、寛容相許スノ気風ヲ作興スルニ於テハ、能ク我至高ノ傳統ニ恥ヂザル眞價ヲ發揮スルニ至ラン。斯ノ如キハ實ニ我國民ガ人類ノ福祉ト向上トノ爲、絶大ナル貢献ヲ爲ス所以ナルヲ疑ハザルナリ。 |
Our Government should make every effort to alleviate their trials and tribulations. At the same time, we trust that the people will rise to the occasion and will strive courageously for the solution of their outstanding difficulties and for the development of industry and culture. Acting upon a consciousness of solidarity and of mutual aid and broad tolerance in their civic life, they will prove themselves worthy of their best tradition. By their supreme endeavours in that direction they will be able to render their substantial contribution to the welfare and advancement of mankind. |
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Structural translationMy government, to ease the trials and tribulations of nationals, must take all possible means upon all manner of measures and operations. At the same time we much desire that our nationals will rise to the temporal hardships, and bravely go on, to conquer the difficulties of the moment, and to promote industry and academic vitality. Our nationals shall unite in their civic lives, and in mustering their spirit of mutual dependence and mutual help, tolerance and mutual acceptance, [they] well shall come to exhibit the true values which do not bring shame to [are worthy of] our highest traditions. In this manner it is not to be doubted that this shall truly be cause for our nationals to make the greatest contributions, for the welfare and advancement of humankind. |
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一年ノ計ハ年頭ニ在リ、朕ハ朕ノ信頼スル國民ガ朕ト其ノ心ヲ一ニシテ、自ラ奮ヒ自ラ勵マシ、以テ此ノ大業ヲ成就センコトヲ庶幾フ。 |
The resolution for the year should be made at the beginning of the year. We expect our people to join us in all exertions looking to accomplishment of this great undertaking with an indomitable spirit. |
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Structural translationPlans for the year there shall be at the beginning of the year; I entreat nationals, whom I trust, to make their hearts one with me, and to stir themselves and encourage themselves, and thereby accomplish this great work. |
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御名 御璽 [Emperor's name] [Emperor's seal]
昭和二十一年一月一日 1 January 1946 [Showa 21-1-1]
内閣総理大臣兼 Prime Ministry of Cabinet cum
第一復員大臣第二復員大臣 Minister of First Demobilization [Army Ministry]
Minister of Second Demobilization [Navy Ministry]
男爵 幣原喜重郎 Baron Shidehara Kijuro
司法大臣 岩田宙造 Minister of Justice Iwata Chuzo
農林大臣 松村謙三 Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Matsumura Kenzo
文部大臣 前田多門 Minister of Education Maeda Tamon
外務大臣 吉田茂 Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshida Shigeru
内務大臣 堀切善次郎 Minister of Home Affairs Horikiri Zenjiro
國務大臣 松本烝治 Minister of State Matsumoto Joji
厚生大臣 芦田均 Minister of Welfare Ashida Hitoshi
國務大臣 次田大三郎 Minister of State Tsugita Daisaburo
大蔵大臣 子爵 渋沢敬三 Minister of Finance Viscount Shibuzawa Keizo
運輸大臣 田中武雄 Minister of Communications Tanaka Takeo
商工大臣 小笠原三九郎 Minister of Commerce and Industry Ogasawara Sankuro
國務大臣 小林一三 Minister of State Kobayashi Ichizo
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