The Imperial Rescript on Education in Japanese.
English Translation of the Imperial Rescript on Education
Know ye, Our subjects;
Our Imperial Ancestors have founded Our Empire on a basis broad and
everlasting and have deeply and firmly implanted virtue; our subjects
ever united in loyalty and filial piety have from generation to
generation illustrated the beauty thereof. This is the glory of the
fundamental character of Our Empire, and herein also lies the source of
our education. Ye, Our subjects, be filial to your parents, affectionate
to your brothers and sisters; as husbands and wives be harmonious, as
friends true; bear yourselves in modesty and moderation; extend your
benevolence to all; pursue learning and cultivate arts, and thereby
develop intellectual faculties and perfect moral powers; furthermore
advance public good and promote common interests; always respect the
Constitution and observe the laws; should emergency arise, offer
yourselves courageously to the State; and thus guard and maintain the
prosperity of Our Imperial Throne coeval with heaven and earth. So shall
ye not only be our good and faithful subjects, but render illustrious
the best traditions of your forefathers. The Way here set forth is
indeed the teaching bequeathed by Our Imperial Ancestors, to be observed
alike by Their Descendants and the subjects, infallible for all ages and
true in all places. It is Our wish to lay it to heart in all reverence,
in common with you, Our subjects, that we may thus attain to the same
virtue.
The 30th day of the 10th month of the 23rd year of
Meiji.
(October 30, 1890).
(Imperial Sign Manual. Imperial
Seal).