在以往的研究裡，明治時期的社會主義者經常被視作「思想家」或「運動家」，且明治社會主義者的研究就是一種思想史取向的研究。然而，日本的民眾史家、文化史家色川大吉用更寬廣的視野，把社會主義者視為文化創造者。這樣的取徑，或許能將明治社會主義者研究從思想史研究的桎梏中「解放」出來亦未可知。 筆者受色川的啟發，採取單一人物的個案研究，選擇的社會主義者是幸德秋水（1871-1911）。人稱「能文之士」的幸德，留下不少漢詩文、文藝評論、翻譯的作品，此外還投身言文一致運動和報紙的創辦、經營事業。作為一位社會主義者，幸德的文化活動極具代表性，適合當作研究的對象。是以本論文的研究目的在於，經由敘述分析幸德秋水所從事的文學、文體改革、翻譯和新聞等文化活動，闡明社會主義者幸德的多重身份及其活動在文化史上的意義。 In the past, the Meiji Socialist is considered as“thinker”、“activist”, and the research of the Meiji Socialist is belonged to the realm of intellectual history. However, Japanese cultural historian Irokawa Daikichi consider socialist as cultural initiator by wider view. By this approach, the study of the Meiji Socialist is likely to get relief from bind of the study of intellectual history. This article choose a case of the Meiji Socialist to study by Irokawa's suggest. This case is Kotoku Shusui(1871-1911). Kotoku, known as“fine writer”, has left a lot of Chinese Classics, works of literary criticism, and translation works, and throw oneself into the Genbun Itchi movement, foundation and management of newspapers. As a Socialist, Kotoku's cultural activities is a representative example, that is sure to become an object of study. Therefore, this article will analysis Kotoku Shusui's activities in literature, stylistic reform, translation, and journalism, explain the Meiji Socialist Kotoku's various positions and significances of his cultural activities in cultural history.
