A Study Of Japanese Education In Edo Period

By using fairly abundant historical data, this dissertation expounds the development process of Japanese education during the Edo period, especially making fuller and more accurate study of education in Japanin the late years of the Edo period and elaborating on its characteristics and close connection with the reform of education in modern Japan in the early years of the Meiji era.this dissertation expresses a standpoint that the educational development in Japan during the Edo period ( especially the later part of this period ) laid a historical foundation for modern Japanese education. The education in Edo period served as a ruling tool for feudal autocracy so that it on one hand safeguarded the feudal system and brewed education of militarism in bud in the 20th century, but on the other hand, owing to the various forms of schools, the popularity of education, the advanced methods of education and the appearance of the seeds of new thought of education, it also prepared favorable conditions for the success of the Meiji Restoration, the introduction of Western ways of education in the Meiji era and the foundation of the state educational system of modern Japan. It is of many - sided great significance to regard the study of Japanese education in Edo period as one of the important aspects of the study of modern Japanese edudation or the research on Japan' s educational modernization.The dissertation is divided into 8 sections:The Preface Chapter elaborates on what have been achieved at home and abroad in the researches on education in Japan's Edo period and discusses the necessity and urgency of the researches, the ways of researches and principles of this dissertation.Chapter One discusses the Japanese education before Edo period, pointing out with emphasis that the three main aspects such as aristocratic education in ancient Japan, the Samurai education before Edo period and the spreading of Buddhism are the historical prerequisites for education in Edo period.Chapter Two, Chapter Three and Chapter Four expound the whole development process of education by classifying it into 3 stages: earlier stage, middle stage and later stage, with stress on the education in later part of the Edo period. The dissertation points out the important features such as educational thought, educational policy, school education, social enlightenment by education and their tendencies of closing up towards modern period.Chapter Five makes a further typical analysis on the educational thought of Kaibara Ekikan, Kan gien and Mei rinkan respectively and, with examples, illustrates the internal situation of school education in Edo period and the growth of modern factors of the development of education in Yedo period.Chapter Six gi?es a summary of heritage of education in Edo period, discusses the educational reform in the early years of Meiji times and its connection with the inheritance of education and reflects the influence of education in Yedo period upon modern Japanese education.The Last Chapter briefly summarizes the development of education and its characteristics in Yedo period and makes a brief comparison of the educational situations and the influences both in China and Japan in the related period. A concise discussion of the research in japan's educational modernization, the criticism and inheritance of traditional education brings about some enlightments drawn from the history.