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*''Japanese'': 国学 ''(kokugaku)''

*''Japanese'': 国学 ''(kokugaku)''

''Kokugaku'', commonly referred to in English as "national learning" or "nativism," was a prominent school of thought in the [[Edo period]] which looked to classical Japanese culture in efforts to discover a purer version of Japanese culture and identity, less marred by elements of Chinese culture. During the Edo period, much ''kokugaku'' writing was concerned chiefly with aesthetics, cultural identity, philosophy, and linguistics. They saw the essence of the Japanese spirit as "free, spontaneous, pure, lofty, and honest,"<ref>Craig, 89.</ref> in contrast to Chinese culture, which they saw as stiff, rigid, cramped, and artificial.

''Kokugaku'', commonly referred to in English as "national learning" or "nativism," was a prominent school of thought in the [[Edo period]] which looked to classical Japanese culture in efforts to discover a purer version of Japanese culture and identity, less marred by elements of Chinese culture. During the Edo period, much ''kokugaku'' writing was concerned chiefly with aesthetics, cultural identity, philosophy, and linguistics. They saw the essence of the Japanese spirit as "free, spontaneous, pure, lofty, and honest,"<ref>Craig, 89.</ref> in contrast to Chinese culture, which they saw as stiff, rigid, cramped, and artificial. The school was opposed to both [[Buddhism]] and [[Confucianism]], and centered on assertions of Japan's divine origins, uniqueness, and inherent superiority of moral character.

However, ''kokugaku'' thought was later employed by pro-Imperial (''[[sonno|sonnô]] [[joi|jôi]]'') factions during the [[Bakumatsu period]], and by Japanese militarists & ultranationalists in the early 20th century, in formulating and justifying their ideologies.

''Kokugaku'' thought was later employed by pro-Imperial (''[[sonno|sonnô]] [[joi|jôi]]'') factions during the [[Bakumatsu period]], and by Japanese militarists & ultranationalists in the early 20th century, in formulating and justifying their ideologies.

==History and Development==

==History and Development==

''Kokugaku'' began in the philological examination of classical Japanese texts, including the ''[[Kojiki]]'' ([[712]]), ''[[Manyoshu|Man'yôshû]]'' (c. 760s), and ''[[Tale of Genji]]'' (c. 1000). The ''Kojiki'' was taken as a particularly appropriate text, since it is the earliest known written history of Japan, and was written in ''[[kana]]'', in a form more closely resembling the recording of earlier oral traditions, in contrast to the ''[[Nihon shoki]]'' of [[720]], which was written in ''[[kanji]]'' (Chinese characters), in a format emulating the official dynastic histories of China.

''Kokugaku'' began in the philological examination of classical Japanese texts, including the ''[[Kojiki]]'' ([[712]]), ''[[Manyoshu|Man'yôshû]]'' (c. 760s), and ''[[Tale of Genji]]'' (c. 1000). The ''Kojiki'' was taken as a particularly appropriate text, since it is the earliest known written history of Japan, and was written in ''[[kana]]'', in a form more closely resembling the recording of earlier oral traditions, in contrast to the ''[[Nihon shoki]]'' of [[720]], which was written in ''[[kanji]]'' (Chinese characters), in a format emulating the official dynastic histories of China.

The school drew particularly upon [[Shinto]], [[Taoism]], and the ideas of China's school of Ancient Learning which sought to uncover the earlier, "truer" meanings of the Chinese classics prior to their supposed corruption by Neo-Confucian reinterpretations.

The school drew particularly upon [[Shinto]], [[Taoism]], and the ideas of China's school of Ancient Learning which sought to uncover the earlier, "truer" meanings of the Chinese classics prior to their supposed corruption by [[Neo-Confucianism|Neo-Confucian]] reinterpretations.

''Kokugaku'' scholars also revived and emphasized ideologies relating to the divine origins of the [[Emperor]], and to Japan as the "land of the gods" (''shinkoku'', 神国). The school of thought known as [[Mitogaku]], based in [[Mito han]], drew upon this approach or attitude in its production of the ''[[Dai Nihon Shi]]'', an ambitious history of Japan which centered on the succession of emperors.

''Kokugaku'' scholars also revived and emphasized ideologies relating to the divine origins of the [[Emperor]], the notion of an unbroken dynastic line stretching back to [[Amaterasu]] herself, and Japan as the "land of the gods" (''shinkoku'', 神国). [[Motoori Norinaga]] suggested that the Japanese people were inherently moral by their very nature, and unlike the Chinese or Europeans, needed no Confucian, Buddhist, or Biblical teachings, nor practices or study for personal cultivation in order to become moral.<ref>Gary Leupp, ''Interracial Intimacy in Japan: Western Men and Japanese Women, 1543-1900'', A&C Black (2003), 90.</ref>

 

The school of thought known as [[Mitogaku]], based in [[Mito han]], drew upon this approach or attitude in its production of the ''[[Dai Nihon Shi]]'', an ambitious history of Japan which centered on the succession of emperors.

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*[[Hanawa Hokinoichi]] ([[1746]]-[[1821]]), compiler of ''[[Gunshoruiju|Gunshoruijû]]''

*[[Hanawa Hokinoichi]] ([[1746]]-[[1821]]), compiler of ''[[Gunshoruiju|Gunshoruijû]]''

*[[Arakida Hisaoyu]] (1746-[[1804]]), known for his study of the ''Man'yôshû''

*[[Arakida Hisaoyu]] (1746-[[1804]]), known for his study of the ''Man'yôshû''

*[[Konakamura Kiyonori]] ([[1821]]-[[1895]])

*[[Konakamura Kiyonori]] ([[1821]]-[[1895]])

*[[Nanma Uho|Nanma Uhô]] ([[1822]]-[[1909]])

*[[Nanma Uho|Nanma Uhô]] ([[1822]]-[[1909]])