Reconstructing the History of Kokugaku Political Thought

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13403
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 06010:Politics-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan University (2022); Kyushu University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: SHIMADA HIDEAKI 東京都立大学, 法学政治学研究科, 准教授 (10802704)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 政治学 / 日本思想史 / 国学 / 本居宣長

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research, entitled "Reconstructing the History of Kokugaku Political Thought ", tried to reconsideration about the characteristics of the thought and practice of Motoori Norinaga and other kokugaku scholars. In recent years, as the main focus of research has shifted to the Meiji period, interest of many researchers has focused on the Confucianism, which played an important role in the reception of Western thought. As a result, while many historical records have been discovered and progress has been made in neighboring studies, research on Kokugaku political thought has remained stagnant. This research project attempted to reconstruct a general historical picture of kokugaku thought centering on Motoori Norinaga, and paying particular attention to the latest research results in neighboring fields that can be applied to political science.

Free Research Field

日本政治思想史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

国学は近世日本に花開いた最も純粋なナショナリズムの文化運動として、時に嫌忌されまた賛美されてきた。特にその政治思想は、「排外主義的」「独善的」「盲目的」といった否定的言辞で形容されるのが常であり、かれらの文藝や古典研究における達成が特筆されるかたわら省察に値しないものとして冷眼視されることも多かった。本研究は、隣接諸科学の成果や史料状況の改善をふまえながら、近世国学者たちの政治思想を再検討するものであり、また一人の対象に焦点を絞らず、通史像の再構築を試みた点で独自の意義を有するといえる。