Research On The Conflict In "The Debate On Hua-Yi" Of Japanese Ideologists In The Early Modern Japan

In ancient East Asia culture, no doubt that Chinese culture was dominant, whereas Japanese culture, on the contrary, went against the East Asia civilization due to its marginal position. Japan, serving as a mainstream power to maintain the order of Han Chinese, used to actively learn from China and even integrate into Chinese culture. Nevertheless, Japanese people, who had long held the tradition of independence, was never contended with China’s culture dominance. During the Edo period, enjoying long-term peace, Japan made great progress in its national comprehensive power, especially in the aspects of spirit and culture. In addition, western culture, which was in conflict with Chinese culture to some extent, started its presence in Japan. Soon Japanese tried to eliminate Chinese elements in their own culture and build on this basis a new order dominant by themselves to balance with the Chinese one. To get rid of its’barbarian’status, Japan spared no effort to prove its racial superiority to other groups. From the letter of credence to the invasion of Korea, the nation never stopped trying to escape the influence of Chinese culture. Meantime, the dynasty subrogation from Ming to Qing put forward Japanese to competing with China, declared or covert.However, no one can change the fact that Japanese culture originated from China, or ignore that East Asia, led by Chinese culture, is closely related with the rest of the world. It is the stable and peaceful environment of long term in East Asia and the introduction of Chinese culture to Japan that gave most impetus to the country. If the former is disturbed, Japanese culture will lose its advanced culture root and never be able to seek sustainable development. In other words, Japan’s damage to Chinese civilization affects the development of the East Asia, which will make a rod for its own back.Chapter 1 (Introduction) The author summarized the results of many scientific researches on’dechinazation’, and drew on this basis a plan about the goals, meanings, and values of the current research. He also mapped out difficult and essential points as well as methods of it. Related points are also illustrated in hope of making the process of this research clearer.Chapter 2 The author retrospected and concluded the Chinese traditional Confucianism and the thought of non-Han people, which has long rooted in Chinese culture. At first, this thought could only apply for Chinese ethnic groups and ’siyi’(other ethnic groups around China), which was particularly looked down upon at that time. However, because of different starting points of various interests of groups, Han people despised of other ethnic groups surrounded, which lasted for thousands of years. In fact, the ideal of "non-Chinese" puts emphasis on culture-centered theory, assimilating their advanced culture into the culture of other groups and some foreign countrieChapter 3 Before the recent century, Japan sorted out a wide variety of challenges towards the order of Han Chinese and some related historical backgrounds. Under the influence of Chinese culture, some surrounded countries headed by Japan had formed their own civilization with a certain amount of recognition and even admiration towards Chinese culture. In a whole, comparing with other countries, Japan was disturbing under the order. Before establishing a East-Asia system dominant by itself, Japan took the strategy of ingratiating in politics and gaining profits in economy.Chapter 4 The author studied’dechinazation’of Japanese during Edo Dynasty. After the 17th century, the recognition of Han-Tang Dynasty culture started to collapse. In modern times, Japanese intellectuals review their historical admiration carefully and eliminate the contradiction between the admiration and its self-centered awareness. Then Shanlusuxing, a Japanese scholar, who studied ancient literature, clearly pointed out that Japanese thought is the core of "Chinese culture". At that time, Ming Dynasty happened to collapse, which just provided an excuse for those who held the similar standpoint.Chapter 5 The author analyzed the assimilation of Japanese made by scholars who studied the ancient the civilization of Japan. In contradiction to Han literature, Japanese culture excluded the influence of other countries towards Japan, distinguishing and eliminating foreign elements, especially Chinese ones, in its own culture. The scholars also established self-centered views. Although it is accepted that these knowledgeable people have reached the highest level in the Japanese culture drive during Edo period, their inevitable inclination of extremism also caused negative effect in its national character.Chapter 6 The author analyzed the influence of the invasion of western culture. The value of Japanese changed as Portuguese floated to an island called "zhongzi Island" in Japan in 1543. Under their pressure, Japan’s national conscience surged and took a totally different path from traditional China. Facing the new world, the paramount spirit of Chinese imperial nation dispersed. With the Han-people order losing its influence in the world, diligent Japanese started to learn from the west.Chapter 7 The author summarized the notion of Japanese intellectuals towards Korea during Edo period. In recent years, the seemingly "Japanese type of Han-people order" caused great damage to the country. Japan witnessed the changes of the notion from respect to invasion, which also drew a lasting influence of its national relations.Chapter 8 The author discussed the basis of Japanese self-excellence from its thought of superiority of a paramount country and its natural environment. Intellectuals, date back to Edo Dynasty, held the view that the thought played an active role in the development of Japan. They advocated Japan was the center of the world based on its unique royalty and the national paramount spirit. The self-superiority of Japan can also be explained by the concept of sound "natural environment(local conditions)", its peace of the county and safety of its people thanks to its rich resources.Chapter 9 The author tried to discuss "the Japanese type of Han-people order" and its "feature of power force" widely recognized by Japanese literature cycle.These two points, containing some elements of " illusory" and "self -establishment", can be further reassured.