"Restoration" And "Exclusiveness": Transition Of Japanese Fukko Shinto

Shintoism in Japan is a religious belief which is based on the national andtraditional belief. In the mid-late period of edo, a group called Fukko Shintodeveloped from Shinto. There are four representatives of this group. They areKadanoazumamaro, Kamonomabuchi, Motoorinorinaga, Hirataatsutane who advocaterejecting foreign culture and renewing the ancient rules.First, when into the mid-late period of the shogunate’s govern, the feudalsociety’s handicraft industry and commerce was flourish. People’s value is transferredby the phenomenon that lower warriors were gradually poor and Japan’s Tokugawashogunate period businessmen were richer and richer. It provides the spring up ofFukko Shinto for the Confucian thoughts which take the dominant position had lost itsmaterial and classic foundation. Second, the ancient school becomes the ideologicaland theoretical material of Fukko Shinto. Third, the anti-feudalism struggle is risinghighly year by year based on Andousyoeki’s thought of completely anti-feudalismdemocracy. The fundamental contradiction of feudal society becomes more and moreintensified. It is the direct inducement of Fukko Shinto.First, since antiquity, Japan is a country that believes polytheism. There areuncountable myths about “God” and “Soul”.“Restoration” means: the ideologistsdraw a conclusion that Japan is a country that believes everything is God and is anOracle’s country by study classical works, explain and analyze myths. Second,Oracle’s country must contain the essence of ancient rule. It must be the only countrythat follows truth. Countries from all of world should respect Japan only. Last, theideologists think that the emperor of Japan is the descendant of Amaterasun. He is ahuman with God’s soul and domains the whole world. Japan is the motherland of allcountries, which suggests the emperor of Japan is the emperor of all the countries.Shinto of Japan goes through these period at the same time as following: OriginalShinto, Shrine Shinto(Theoretical Shinto in late period), State Shinto and independentShinto. Theoretical Shinto has a remarkable feature that indicates the combination ofthoughts of Shinto and thoughts of Confucian. Fukko Shinto is the transition pointbetween Theoretical Shinto and State Shinto. They study Records of Ancient Mattersand The Book Records of Japan to renew the ancient rules and insist the theory ofanti-Bendichuiji to make humanity replaced by Shinto which manifest the exclusive concept. Nevertheless, the “Exclusiveness” is not completely. They put forwards ideaswith Christian color like “dominate God”,“future trails” and “transition of body andsoul”. In extensive, it is worship of foreign things. Their rules mean the theory withpolitical complexion which derived from Confucianism. It is the residual inside.In conclusion, Fukko Shint in the mid-late period of edo is a connecting linkbetween the preceding and the following which reflect from “Restoration” and“Exclusiveness”. Fukko Shinto and Yangming theory are supplement to each other.These can strengthen the national consciousness of people and propagandize foreignculture. That called “Restoration” which is the transition from Composite Shinto toState Shinto. It is also the transition of Japanese social ideology. The so called“Exclusiveness” is Shintoism’s Yamato soul, which promotes the status of Mikadoand advances the process of pushing down the government of shogun. This is thetransition from humble one to the noble one in culture. These entire present Japanattempt to change political forms by establish overlord status.