What’s Ignored in Itō Jinsai’s Interpretation of Mencius
Journal
Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy
Journal Volume
12
Journal Issue
1
Pages
1-10
Date Issued
2013
Author(s)
Abstract
This article discusses the 17th century Japanese Confucian Itō Jinsai's interpretation of Mencius. It is argued that Itō Jinsai grinds the Mencius with an axe of Japanese "practical learning." In his representation of Mencius, the government of "Kindly Way" is upheld as the core value in Mencius' thought. Although there is a clear spirituality in his own philosophy, he stressed the political aspect of Mencius' thought at the expense of the transcendental aspect of his theory of human mind and nature. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
Type
journal article