The View on Confucianism of Hoashi Banri in the Nyugakushinron

Title

The View on Confucianism of Hoashi Banri in the Nyugakushinron

Author

Takushi KUDO

Page

107-133

DOI

10.6163/TJEAS.202012_17(2).0004

Abstract

Hoashi Banri was a political and ideological figure of the Tokugawa era in Japan who produced numerous works, one of which, Nyugakushinron, is considered a masterpiece. Koga Toan stated, "Since Zisi and Mengzi, there is no such book." This article is divided into four parts to discuss Nyugakushinron. The first part introduces the person and his works about Hoashi Banri. The second part mainly discusses the academic position of Nyugakushinron in Banli’s academy based on the Preface by Motoda Chikukkei. This is followed by an exploration of the view on Confucianism in Nyugakushinron. The last part is my conclusion. In the Nyugakushinron, although Banri acknowledges the significance of Buddhism in educating people, he states that Buddhism is only a ‘temporary education’. Conversely, Banri sees Confucianism as a ‘method of morality’ that can ‘guide Junzi, reveal ethics, correct politics’, and ‘emphasize fear of Tianming and do Ren’. Thus, he regards it as ‘orthodox education’.This shows how Nyugakushinron emphasizes the ethical side of Confucianism, which highlights the true face of Banri as a politician.

Keyword

Hoashi Banri; Nyugakushinron; View on Confucianism; Orthodox education; Method of morality

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