Confucianism and Moral Education in Meiji Period in Japan

• Main Authors: Man-Li Hsu, 許曼莉
• Other Authors: Charng-Huei Liou
• Format: Others
• Published: 2002
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/78264423310091639548

碩士 === 淡江大學 === 日本研究所 === 90 === Title of Thesis: Total Pages: 190 Confucianism and Moral Education in Meiji Period in Japan Name of Institute: Graduate institute of Japanese Studies, Tamkang University Graduate Date: Jun. 2002 Degree Conferred: Master Degree of Art Name of student: Man-Li Hsu Advisor: Dr. Charng-Huei Liou （許曼莉） （劉長輝） Abstract: After the Meiji Restoration, Japan announced the end of the Isolation Policy, which had lasted more than two hundred years. At that time, aiming at becoming a wealthy country with strong military power, the government not only adopted the western political system but also absorbed the western culture and religion, which gave rise to the western civilization in Japan. Although the Japanese had devoted themselves to learn from the West, they still regarded the Confucianism as the mainstream in their national moral education. The purpose of the present study was to discuss why the Meiji government executed the Confucianism rather than the Japanese traditional spirit and to investigate the value of the Confucianism over the western culture. To accomplish the goal of this research, the present study aimed to explore the relationship between the Japanese moral education and the Confucianism. In the introduction, the motivation, purpose and framework of this research were addressed. The first chapter described the Confucianism and the Japanese traditional spirit in the modern times. The status of the Confucianism was disclosed as well. The second chapter revealed the issues of the Japanese moral education policies. The third chapter investigated the relationship between the moral education and the Confucianism in terms of “Children Education Rescript” and “Soldier Rescript.” The fourth chapter introduced the history, contents and the characteristics of the “Educational Rescript.” Then, the relationship between the rescript and the Confucianism was explored. Finally, the impacts of the rescript on the national moral education were discussed. The present study intended to illustrate the significance of the Confucianism on the Japanese moral education in the modern times.