The Development Of Japan's Hanko Western Learning Education During The Edo Period And Its Historical Role

If we regard the process of the Chinesization resulting from the absorption of Chinese civilization by Japan as the first ideological emancipation movement in the Japanese history,then introduction and dissemination of western learning to the East is gradually becoming the second ideological emancipation movement of Japan,which is the bridge for the transition of Japan to modernization.In 1603,Japan entered the Edo era,and the earliest school of Nagoya was founded in 1632.Due to the policy of closing the door to the outside world and religion banning after 1633,Confucianism was the main teaching content in Japanese schools.In the 18 th century,Japan's commodity economy had a relatively large-scale development.However,the traditional Confucianism could not solve various problems arising from the development of commodity economy.In 1720,it issued the “Release of foreign books ” policy,which broke the state of retreating and locking the country.To a certain extent,this encouraged the introduction of Western culture,which has gradually relaxed the educational atmosphere and spread new content.Since then,Japan has embarked on the path of introducing and disseminating Western studies.From 1720 to the Meiji Restoration,the introduction of Western education in the Japanese Edo era was divided into two stages.From 1720 to 1852,the Rangaku education was introduced to the Hanko,which enriched the content of education and the practical subjects of people's livelihood.From 1853 to 1868,Japan was forced to open up the country due to the external threat,the national crisis was deepening,domestic riots frequently occurring and the financial crisis was severe.Under the situation of internal and external troubles,the education of Rangaku gradually expanded into the Yogaku stage.With the intensification of the national crisis,the education of Yogaku has also undergone constant changes in the aspect of introduction,from the practical science of people's livelihood to the military science and technology.The Western education in Japan's Edo era Hanko has trained a large number of talents and has become the cradle for the cultivation of the Bakuhan System gravedigger.After the Meiji Restoration,the Hanko has become the foundation of the modernized middle school.Many Hanko were changed to middle school or technical school during the reform,laying a solid foundation for the comprehensive absorption of western scientific and cultural knowledge after the Meiji Restoration.Therefore,the western education in Japan's Edo era school was a modern one and it made a tremendous contribution to the modernization of the Meiji Reform.