The research of Kogi during the period of the Meiji Restoration

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K03113
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Japanese history
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University (2019-2022); Ritsumeikan University (2017-2018)
• Principal Investigator: NARA Katsuji 広島大学, 人間社会科学研究科(文), 教授 (90535874)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山崎 有恒 立命館大学, 文学部, 教授 (00262056) ; 奥村 弘 神戸大学, 人文学研究科, 教授 (60185551)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 公議 / 幕末維新 / 意思決定 / 上書 / 攘夷 / 動員 / 一致 / 多数決

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study comprehensively analyzes various aspects of "Kogi" which until now have tended to be analyzed only from the limited perspective of an event during the Bakumatsu Restoration Period or as a prehistory of the establishment of modern parliaments, as important issues related to the foundation of the Meiji Restoration. Specifically, the various trends surrounding "Kogi" during this period were discussed in the form of study groups from multiple perspectives, including political history, regional history, history of thoughts, media history, incorporating not only the expansion of political participation but also perspectives such as consolidation, unification, and mobilization.
The results were published in the form of books, articles, and research presentations by the principal investigators, contributors, and collaborators, and were made available to the academic community and society. A collection of papers summarizing the discussions in the study group is in preparation.

Free Research Field

人文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

最大の成果は、研究会活動を中心とした考察・議論を通して、「公議」概念を維新変革の一要素、副次的産物ではなく、むしろその根幹をなした重要概念として位置づけることに概ね成功したことである。その点は課題期間を通して当該期を扱った学術書や一般書に「公議」という項目を立てたりその内容を組み込んだりするものが増え（当概念が明治維新を論じる際の主たる要素の一つであるという理解が定着し）、研究代表者や協力者も執筆に関わった事実にも表れている。また、「公議」が単に政治参加を目指した運動ではなく、「攘夷」のような対外方針やそのための一致、動員とも関わり、また多数決をめぐる論争を生み出したことも明らかになった。