『神の運命 -- 歴史の導くところへ』 古田武彦
人間の認識 古田武彦（古田史学論集 『古代に真実を求めて』 第三集 一九九六年 明石書店）
Recognition of Human Beings Furuta Takehiko
"This document was created and outputted using the generative AI 'NotebookLM' based solely on the material mentioned above. As a result, it is a summary of 'Recognition of Human Beings'."
2026.02.21
Takehiko Furuta is widely known for his research on ancient history, such as "There Was No Yamatai (Kyushu Dynasty Theory)." However, at its core lay a deep study of Shinran and an "inquiry into human existence itself," based on a critical perspective of modern rationalism.
What can be discerned from the uploaded materials (such as Recognition of Human Beings, The Fate of God, and Shinran's Thought) is the theme of the "three challenges (walls)" facing modern humanity, which he arrived at through his historical research, and the corresponding "restoration of human reason."
Mr. Furuta raised the challenge to the following three issues as the mission of human beings heading into the 21st century.
"Religion is created by humans"
Religion was originally created by humans themselves so that they could live happily. However, historical religions (and cults) have absolutized "God" and "dogmas," using them as indulgences to even justify "killing people."
With the 1995 Aum Shinrikyo incident in mind, Takehiko Furuta severely criticized the reversal of subject and object, where religiTakehiko Furuta's "Recognition of Human Beings" -- Transcending the Walls of Religion, Science, and the State.
Introduction: A Testament for the 21st Century
Takehiko Furuta is widely known for his research on ancient history, such as "There Was No Yamatai (Kyushu Dynasty Theory)." However, at its core lay a deep study of Shinran and an "inquiry into human existence itself," based on a critical perspective of modern rationalism.
What can be discerned from the uploaded materials (such as Recognition of Human Beings, The Fate of God, and Shinran's Thougon becomes "conceited" and controls human beings. He appealed for a return to the fundamental origin: "God did not create humans; humans created God."
"A broken gun and a distorted earth"
The development of science has brought material wealth, but at the same time, it has created "means of human extinction" such as nuclear weapons.
He questions the ethical responsibility of scientists who, under the beautiful guise of the "pursuit of truth," remain oblivious to or become subservient to state power and military applications.
Education as a "State Commercial"
Mr. Furuta pointed out that the "education" conducted by modern states is a "state commercial (brainwashing)" that is far more powerful and invisible than commercial advertisements.
In particular, he criticized Japan's history education since the Meiji era (a monolithic history based on the emperor-centered view of history) for concealing facts and paralyzing the reason of the people.
For Mr. Furuta, the study of ancient history was not merely a hobby or an act of nostalgia; it was a battle to dismantle this "brainwashing by the state."
Imperial Calendar and Church Calendar
He likened Japan's traditional view of history (an unbroken imperial line, the monolithic historical view of the Yamato court) to the "church calendar" used by the medieval European church to maintain the Ptolemaic system (geocentrism).
Historiography as Galileo
Just as Galileo revealed the truth of the universe through the heliocentric theory, Mr. Furuta attempted to reveal the truth of ancient Japan (Real footprints of our ancestors) through the "Kyushu Dynasty Theory" and the "Pluralistic View of Ancient History."
He argued that dismantling the "story of the state" based on objective historical documents and facts—such as the exact location of "Yamaichikoku" (Yamatai) and the fact that the distribution of "silk" was centered around the coast of Hakata Bay—is precisely the recovery of human reason (= recognition of human beings).
Another pillar of Mr. Furuta's thought is his research on Shinran, based on a rigorous critique of historical materials.
Shinran as a "Living, Breathing Human Being"
He depicted Shinran not as an object of worship (a holy saint), but as a "single human being" who suffers, feels anger, and loves.
Especially in his research on the Sanmuki (Record of Three Dreams) and the Nyohan no Ge (Verse on Violating Women), he frankly analyzed Shinran's anguish over sexuality and his relationship with his wife, Eshinni, shedding light on the human aspects that had been considered taboo.
Protest against Power
He placed great importance on the words found in the postscript of Kyogyoshinsho: "The emperor and his ministers turn against the Dharma and violate justice." He highlighted the spiritual backbone of Shinran, who refused to yield to power even amidst the oppression of exile.
This perfectly overlaps with the attitude Mr. Furuta himself maintained toward the authority of the academic world and prevailing theories.
The "Recognition of Human Beings" advocated by Takehiko Furuta can be summarized in the following points:
Do not blindly obey external authorities (religion, science, the state).
Verify "facts (truth)" with your own eyes and reason.
Make "human beings" the starting point and reject dogmas and systems that bring misfortune to humanity.
The quote from the poem in the materials, "What the dead soldier left behind was a broken gun and a distorted earth," symbolizes the tragedy resulting from being at the mercy of authority. It expresses the ethical motivation behind Furuta's historiography: the conviction that "historical facts" and "reason" are absolutely necessary to break free from such tragedies.
"This is by all means a starting point for the recognition of human reason, of, for, and by human beings."
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