Confucian Thought in the Edo Period

• Confucianism in the Edo period

• Zhu Xi’s School of Thought

  • Interpreted the dualism of principle and qi, stating that people are born with their own principles (i.e. social status)
  • Interpreted the restraint of qi as the rejection of extravagance
  • As Buddhism was weakening, Tokugawa Ieyasu adopted and popularized Zhu Xi’s School of Thought
    • It was convenient for governance
  • Fujiwara Seika (taught Zhu Xi’s School of Thought to Ieyasu)
  • Hayashi Razan (taught Zhu Xi’s School of Thought to the Tokugawa family)
    • It seems that this person also connected governance with Zhu Xi’s School of Thought
  • Yamazaki Ansai
    • Tied Shinto and Zhu Xi’s School of Thought together
    • Discussed the qualification of the emperor’s subjects, similar to Zhu Xi’s School of Thought

• Wang Yangming’s School of Thought

  • Advocated for the activation of the ability to judge good and evil that everyone possesses
    • It became popular because it pleased the common people
  • Nakae Toju
    • Filial piety: the idea of showing kindness and respect to others
      • Similar to the concept of “love thy neighbor”?
      • Considering the concept of “time, place, and occasion” (the Japanese version of “TPO”)

• Confucianism

  • The top should be a person of good character (the principle of moral governance)