The Decline Of Zhuzi's Theory During Jianghu Era And The Modernization In Japan

Japan is a particular nation, who lift herself from poverty and backwardness successfully in modern times, and run into the way of early modernization in spite of the menace of aggression. Seemingly, success in Japan should be attributed to Meiji Reform or Restoration implemented in 1868.Actually, in Jianghu Era Japan had fully prepared for her modernization psychologically and laid sound foundation theoritically.The official ideology was Zhuzi' theory in Jianghu Era in Japan, advocated the world outlook about "harmony of man with nature", theory of human nature about"restraining man's instinct, values of valuing justice more than material gains, and strict social estate system, all of which serve feudal rule, while Zhuzi's theory was regarded as official ideology. It is difficult for Japan to realize pre-modernization.As a foreign culture, Zhuzi's theory had been modified creatively by different steps in favor of their own class interest during it was being accepted by Japanese. As a result, Zhuzi's theory began to decline in Japan and elements of pre-modernization came out. For instance, Japanese ancient school broke the world outlook of "harmony of man with nature" in Zhuzi' theory and opened road for the development of nature science by cutting off the connective bond of man with nature. Zhuzi's theory human nature idea" prefer heavenly principles to human appetites" just defended the feudal ethic moral about "three cardinalguides and five constant virtues". According to this condition, ancient school ofthought put forward the view of "A man is not man without human instinct". It can show the color of humanism in modem times and fortell the construction of new ethical idea. Zhuzi's theory values of "value justice more than material gains" safeguarded agriculture-oriented economy, hindered the development of money economy and commercial capital essentially, and restrained the form of new capitalism values and ethical moral spirit. Consequently," chounin philosophy made a stinging attack to the view of "value justice more than material gains" in Zhuzi's theory and stated the material pursuits of Chounin class justifiable. In other words, heir-archy is the character of all exploitation systems, since it restrains the emancipation of human nature and blocks the development of economy. Targetting on this backward ,rotten heir-archy, Shi Jiuchao set forth the rationalism idea of "value masses more than emperor", and everyone's equality by nature.On the guidance of the theories of Marxist historical materialism, this paper will make comprehensive and historical study thoroughly toward the generation and development of modernization in Japan, and also the role and influence of Zhuzi's theory in the transitional course from feudal society to modem capitalism in Japan, by adopting the methods which combine the philosophical with historical methods, with the point of view of ethics.On the result of this research, the decline of Zhuzi's theory during Jianghu Era produced elements of modernization in Japan, which conform to the law of commodity economy in essence, and promote the function of modem capitalism with modem-oriented pushing forward the development from feudal society to modem capitalist society in Japan. All this resulted in the development in modem times in Japan rapidly.