
This is a history of intellectual and religious developments in Japan during the Tokugawa period, covering the years 1582-1860. It begins with an explanation of the fate of Christianity, and proceeds to cover the changing nature of the relationship between Buddhism and secular authority, new developments in Shinto, and the growth of 'Japanese studies'. The main emphasis, however, is on the process by which Neo-Confucianism captured the imagination of the intellectual class and informed debate throughout the period. This process was expressed in terms of a never-ending search for the Way, a mode and pattern of existence that could provide not only order for society at large, but self-fulfilment for the individual. The narrative traces how ideas and attitudes changed through time, and is based on the premise that the Tokugawa period is important in and of itself, not merely as a backdrop to the Meiji Restoration of 1868.
This work investigates the intellectual and religious evolution of Japan between 1582 and 1860, specifically focusing on the pursuit of the 'Way' as a framework for social order and individual fulfillment. Richard John Bowring, a scholar of Japanese literature and culture, utilizes historical records and philosophical texts to argue that the Tokugawa period warrants study as a distinct era of development rather than merely a precursor to the Meiji Restoration. He examines how Neo-Confucianism became the dominant intellectual force, shaping the values and debates of the era's elite class.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and historians frequently identify this text as a comprehensive resource for understanding the complex ideological landscape of the Tokugawa period. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of Japanese intellectual history for advanced students and researchers.
Page Count:
352
Publication Date:
2016-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191836532
ISBN-13:
9780191836534
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