Variations in State Power and Civil Power: The Structural Spirit of Meiji Japan

Author: Matsubayashi Sanosuke / Li Dongjun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: The Meiji spirit structure can be described as a trinity of nationalism, populism, and liberalism. The trajectory of Japan's modernization process is an ellipse, moving inwardly around the two centers of nationalism and Westernization. Nationalism is rooted in Confucianism, while Westernization runs counter to Confucianism but inspired Japan's Meiji-era populism and liberalism. Meiji-era thinkers integrated these opposing ideologies into a unified national spirit structure, driving them to extremes. In Japan's modernization process, nationalism led to militarism, while Westernization led to wholesale Westernization. From the perspective of contemporary civil society, the author offers a profound reflection on this. His reflections provide a historical mirror for us to understand the intellectual roots of Japanese militarism today.