Tokugawa Political Writings (cambridge Texts In Modern Politics)

The modern political consciousness of Japan cannot be understood without reference to the history of the Tokugawa period, the era between 1600 and 1868 that preceded Japan's modern transformation. Tetsuo Najita introduces the ideas of the leading political thinker of the period, Ogyu Sorai (1666–1728), a pivotal figure in laying the conceptual foundations of Japan's modernization. His basic thoughts about history and the ethical purposes of politics are presented, revealing the richness of the philosophical legacy of eighteenth-century Japan, a legacy which cannot be seen through the perspective of 'westernization'. His ideas reveal a vision of human diversity and individual virtue which can be viewed in comparative perspective, as well as an insight into the history and politics of Japan. The texts are accompanied by a chronology of Sorai's life, a glossary, a guide to persons mentioned in the text, and a guide to further reading, as well as Professor Najita's introduction, which puts Sorai's work into philosophical and historical context. The modern political consciousness of Japan cannot be understood without reference to the history of the Tokugawa period, the era between 1600 and 1868 that preceded Japan's modern transformation. In this volume Tetsuo Najita introduces the ideas of the leading political thinker of the period, Ogyu Sorai (1666-1728), providing an important insight into the history and politics of contemporary Japan. Sorai's texts are accompanied by a chronology of his life, a glossary, a guide to persons mentioned in the text, and a guide to further reading, as well as Professor Najita's introduction, which puts the work into philosophical and historical context. Cambridge University Press Contents 6 Preface 8 Acknowledgements 12 Interpreting the historicism ofgyu Sorai 14 Principal events in the life of Ogyu Sorai 56 Biographical synopses 60 Guide to further reading 66 Glossary 68 Bendo A discourse on the Way 76 Benmei I The clarification of Names 110 Keizairoku Shui Addendum to "On the political economy" 216 Index 229 ISBN-13,9780521561860,hardback,ISBN-10,0521561868,hardback,ISBN-13,9780521567176,paperback,ISBN-10,0521567173,paperback ISBN-13 9780521561860 hardback,ISBN-10 0521561868 hardback,ISBN-13 9780521567176 paperback,ISBN-10 0521567173 paperback Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Interpreting the historicism ofgyu Sorai......Page 14 Principal events in the life of Ogyu Sorai......Page 56 Biographical synopses......Page 60 Guide to further reading......Page 66 Glossary......Page 68 Bendo A discourse on the Way......Page 76 Benmei I The clarification of Names......Page 110 Keizairoku Shui Addendum to "On the political economy"......Page 216 Index......Page 229 An English edition of works by the great Japanese political thinker Ogyu Sorai. Bendō ; Benmei I / Ogyū Sorai Keizairoku shūi / Dazai Shundai.