The Intellectual Evolution of Japan Intellectuals who Absorbed Western Civilization in Late Tokugawa Period

During the Japanese Bakumatsu-Ishin era when the Great Powers approached, the 'Rangaku' trend prevailed, attempting to absorb some of the modern western culture. The Hanshi offspring strove to master the military strategies and gunnery for the national defense preparation. At that time, Banshoshirabesho (the antecedent of the University of Tokyo) engaged the service of Rangaku scholars with rich western knowledge for the preparation of the higher levels of faculty. Mitsukuri Genpo (1799~l863), Shionoya Touin (l806~l867) and Sakuma Shouzan (1811~1864) studied both Confucianism and 'Rangaku' and generated high crisis consciousness about the Great Powers invading Japan as well. Their ideologies catalyzed and evolved contributing greatly to the modernization in Japan. Mitsukuri Genpo, originally from Tsuyama Han (Okayama Prefecture), was a 'Tenmontaka' at Bakufu and was commissioned to serve as the translation official of 'Banshowagegoyou' in 1839. In June 1853 he translated the credentials of American President, Millard Fillmore (1800~1868) and in July 1853 he collaborated with Bakufu Diplomat Kawaji Toshiakira (l801~l868) in the translation of the credentials of Russian Ambassador Evfemi Vasilievitch Putiatin (1803~1883). Later on, he served as the chief professor at 'Banshoshirabesho'. His brilliant foreign language competence and comprehensive knowledge of world geography of whom influenced the national defense and military policy of modernization in late Tokugawa Japan. Shionoya Touin, Bakufu Junkan (in charge of Confucianism), born in Edo, was good at sinology, winning the name of 'Japanese Oya Sho'. His works, including "Kakkaron" and "Chukaishigi," addressed the coast-defenses policy in Japan and he was once the vital assistant in Bakufu 'Tenpounokaikaku'. Touin was concerned about the correspodence measures of late Qing Dynasty in Opium War and their impacts on Japan. He collected related information and edited it under the title "Afuyou Ibun" (7 volumes) and "Touin Sonkou". His works reflected the formation process of his perspectives on China. Sakuma Shouzan was a Hanshi of Shinshuu and was ordered to observe the movement of American fleet at Uraga Port when, led by Matthew Calbraith Perry (1794~1858), it entered Japan in 1853. He had offered his strategy based on naval defense theory. Shouzan changed from supporting the nation-closure position to respecting the emperor and supporting the nation-opening position. "Sho Ei Ro" embodied his thought, and his stress on "Oriental values and Western arts" had an impact on Japan’s modernization process, as well. This paper compares and contrasts these three persons via the angle of their interaction and movements in the historical context of the modernization in Japan. Based on historical materials, the formation of ideology is explored and the roles of these three in that Japanese society shaped by both traditional Confucianism and modern culture are also discussed.