Did Confucian teachings influence Japan?
wikilatief -- Confucianism is the main teaching of Confucius (Kong Hu Cu) from China, has less influence than Buddhism (the teachings of Siddharta Gautama) in Japan.
Because the Japanese themselves consider Confucianism a moral code more than a religion.
Introduced in the early 6th century AD via Korea, but reached its peak in the Edo Period (1615–1868).
Confucianism was influential in people's thinking and behavior, but after World War II it slowly loosened or disappeared ..
Today, the influence of Confucianism in Japanese society can still be seen, including ancestor worship, loyalty to the master (boss), the obedience of children to parents and the obedience of wives to husbands.
Respect for parents and ancestors
The formalization of ethics and behavior of Japanese society influenced by Confucianism has been going on for a long time.
This can still be witnessed, for example, obedience to people of higher positions, especially parents.
Confucianism emphasizes a distinctly strong Chinese tradition of ancestor worship, devotion and respect from children to their parents.
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These aspects are accepted by Japanese society because it is a coincidence that since ancient times they have known the tradition of respecting the ancestors and the elders.
Confucianism in the Edo Period
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| Yushima Seido, Confucius Shrine founded in the Edo Period. |
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| The statue of Confucius in Yushima Seido. |
Confucianism occupied a high position in the Edo Period (1615-1868) where the Tokugawa Shogunate made Confucianism the basis of their rule, especially this principle of Loyalty was demonstrated by: servants must be loyal to their masters and samurai must be loyal to their masters.
Confucian teachings were also applied to regulating relationships between parents and children, husband and wife, teacher and student, all on the basis of loyalty and love.
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The state authorities liked Buddhism and protected it, but they did not make it the state religion. What became a kind of "state religion" was none other than Confucianism.
During the 17th century, the Japanese began to study the doctrine of Confucianism in depth, this was a little late compared to neighboring Korea.
This triggered active printing and more literate people. As a result, in this century intellectual activity grew rapidly.
Scholars in Edo participated in teaching for other areas. Confucianism emphasized the importance of reading and studying books and this was quite effective in increasing Japanese awareness of learning.
In its application in the Edo period, Confucianism established a moral code that was adhered to between government groups, from high-ranking officers to shoguns and to the (lowest) samurai class.
Violations can lead to harsh penalties, so society cultivates the habit of discipline and obeying the rules.
Ieyasu Tokugawa appointed a Confucian scholar to become an official philosopher at his court to provide insight into Confucius' teachings through classical Chinese texts.
The Tokugawa shogunate also highly valued Confucian philosophers such as Seika Fujiwara and Doshun Hayashi.
The Confucianism used by Tokugawa was a Neo Confucian philosophy interpreted by Zhu Xi (1130–1200) of the Sung Dynasty.
According to Zhu Xi, a wise person must teach the people how to behave. However, the Confucianism practiced by the Tokugawa Shogunate was not flawless.
Different from China which was ruled by an emperor, Japan was ruled by a feudal leader.
In the feudal Tokugawa system, status was primarily determined by birth, and personal merits were only in addition.
According to Confucianism, ideally government should be filled by people with high education and morals, not by people who were superior in their birth.
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It was the samurai who voiced many criticisms of the shogunate. Low ranking samurai but ambitious in learning, asked for more credit because they contributed to the shogunate.
Several things happened during this period:
• Wang Yang-ming / O Yomei School of Confucianism (1472–1529) was popularized by Nakae Toju and Banzan Kumazawa.
• The Old School was founded by Ogyu Sorai (1666–1728) who studied old Confucianism but rejected Neo-Confucianism.
• Increased attention to classical Chinese books as well as a search for authentic Japanese literature.
Sources:
The Japan of Today, International Society for Educational Information, Inc., 1996.
Early Japan, Jonathan Norton Leonard, Time-Life International, 1979.
Djepang Sepandjang Masa, Nio Joe Lan, PT. Kinta Djakarta, 1962.
Manusia Jepang, Edwin O.Reischauer, Sinar Harapan, 1982.
Images :
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-11997,_Japan,_Teezeremonie.jpg
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yushima_Seido_002.jpg