A Study Of "The Harmony Of Eastern And Western Civilizations" In The Late Meiji Period

"The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations" has a profound historical background.The absorption and integration of foreign cultures in Japan is the basic condition.From the Edo Period to the early Meiji Period,the active Japanese ideological world appeared some usable ideological resources,such as Shinkoku thought,eclectic thought,and European view of civilization history.These thoughts influenced value proposition,main ideas,and the form of "The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations".During the Meiji period,the situation of Japan and abroad occurred drastic changes,then it affected the Japanese's view on civilization,nation and world.This background determined the emergence,main content and characteristics of "The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations" in the late Meiji Period.In the late Meiji Period,"The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations" advocate that Japanreconciled Eastern and Western civilizations,which has a superior position in the world.Therefore,Japan should shoulders the mission of reconciling Eastern and Western civilizations,creates new civilizations and promotes world peace.The representatives of it were (?)kuma Shigenobu,Tokutomi Soh?,Watanabe Manz?,Got? Shinpei,and Ukita Kazutami.Ithave three characteristics: The first is instrumental."The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations" as a propaganda tool to break the " The Yellow Peril " and rationalize Japan's expansion.The second is formalization.The shortcomings of "The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations" in terms of motivation,content and argumentation logic indicate that civilization theory is only its superficial form.The third is speculative."The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations" demonstrates Japan's superior position from different perspectives,such as cultural tradition,geographic location,reform effect and international status,and thus leads to Japan's responsibilities and obligations to "protect" and "lead" countries in East Asian.In the late Meiji Period,"The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations" had different levels of connection with other socialism,such as Japaneseism,imperialism,and Pan-Asianism.At the same time,"The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations" not only guided the national cognition,but also cooperated with the implementation of the colonial expansion policy,and even influenced the "cultural conciliation" during the period of May Fourth Movement in China.The essence of the "The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations" is "The Japanese superiority","The Japanese special",and "The Japanese expansion" under the reintegration of Japanese traditional thought and Western modern thought.In the Taish? Period,"The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations" not only had an inherited aspect,but also appeared some related academic research.In the modern history of Japan,the development of "The harmony of Eastern and Western Civilizations" tends to be complicated and diversified.