The Dissemination And Characteristics Of Confucianism In Japan

After the study and pursuit of numerous Confucians since Confucius built the Confucianism, it has been more rich and complete and has formed a large theoretical system. In the two thousand years of long Feudal Times, Confucian Thoughts has always been the centre of the Political Ideology and has decided the Chinese social and culture life. Chinese Confucian thoughts also influenced Japan, moreover, the ancient Japanese civilization benefited from Chinese traditional culture. The development of modern Japanese politics, economy and social culture is all influenced by Confucian thoughts; even the concept of humanism in the contemporary Japanese society is permeated through by Confucian ethics, and in certain degree, it forms the Japanese way of thinking and action. After Confucianism entering Japan, it did not get attention except for the dissemination among some upper class and noblemen because of the out of step of the culture development between two countries and two different languages. Until the period of Prince Shotoku, Confucianism is widely spreaded through all means like legal means and so on. Thereafter the appearances of a group of Confucian scholars such as 'Gozan Monks' quicken the development of Confucianism. The born of Confucian masters like Fujiwaraseika, Hayashirazann shows the flourish of Confucianism in Japanese society at that time. So far Japanese Confucianism comes into the comprehensive development period. Japanese Confucianism brings Confucianism and Japanese Yamato culture and national spirit together, which shows particular characteristics: First, The world view of Japanese Confucianism has less abstractiveness and pure rational speculation than Chinese Confucianism; Second, The Epistemology of Japanese Confucianism pays more attention to perceptual experience, fact, phenomenon, experience and positiveness; Third, The 'Cheng' in ethics of Japanese Confucianism is more emotional colouring and expressed in deeds than Chinese Confucianism; Fourth, The Japanese Confucianism lightens the concept of 'Ren' in Chinese Confucianism, but emphasises absolute loyalty; Fifth, The Japanese Confucianism has its distinguished characteristic from Chinese Confucianism, which is, it combines with its native religion Shintou. Through the grasping of these characteristics, we can understand the whole Japanese culture and some specialities of Japanese nation better.