| + | It was in the 1790s that writers such as [[Aizawa Seishisai]] and [[Fujita Yukoku|Fujita Yûkoku]] began to write about the danger of European missionaries and/or military forces making inroads into Japan. In particular, Yûkoku expressed concern that "should the Russian barbarians entice our stupid commoners with their wicked [Christian] teachings and sugar-sweet words," Japan would potentially fall. He wrote, "the barbarians will advance like lightning by sea and land."<ref name=waka55>Wakabayashi, 55.</ref> |
| + | The [[Mito school]] in particular began to describe Westerners as "rapacious barbarians intent on capturing the hearts and minds of 'stupid' Japanese commoners," praising the decision by early Tokugawa shoguns to [[kaikin|expel the Christians]] in the 1630s, and advocating the use of military force to defend Japan.<ref>Wakabayashi, 55-56.</ref> |