Politics and Religion - A Journal of Europe and America

A Japanese Buddhist philosopher travels through Europe and America, looking closely at churches, schools, museums, and ordinary life. Cathedrals, collections, weddings, funerals, and railway journeys become evidence in his inquiry into politics and religion.

In 291 numbered observations, Inoue Enryō compares Western religious institutions with Japanese traditions and challenges missionaries’ claims. His final arguments connect education, cultural preservation, and national independence.

This complete new English translation includes the Chinese poem and accompanying explanations, and both of the author’s concluding terminology lists. Concise notes address historical names, source anomalies, and the limits of the author’s reported claims.