Meirokusha
Encyclopedia
The was an intellectual society in Meiji period
Japan
that published social-criticism journal Meiroku Zasshi (Meiroku Journal, 明六雑誌).
Proposed by statesman Mori Arinori
in 1873 (six years after the Meiji Restoration
) and officially formed on 1 February 1874, the Meirokusha was intended to “promote civilization and enlightenment”, and to introduce western ethics
and the elements of western civilization
to Japan. It played a prominent role in introducing and popularizing Western ideas during the early Meiji period, through public lectures and through its journal, the Meiroku zasshi. Mori had been impressed by the activities of American educational societies during his stint (1871-1873) as Japan's first envoy to the United States
. He was also influenced by Horace Mann
's views on universal education.
Its original members were:
The society grew to encompass a total of thirty-three members, including:
This membership thus included some of the most leading educators, bureaucrats, and philosophers of 19th century Japan, from a variety of backgrounds. Most had studied both Confucianism
and western philosophy
, and most had experience in living abroad. The Confucian faction felt that the strength and prosperity of the western nations was built on a foundation of moral strength, and urged that Japan follow the same path. The western philosophy faction asserted that the strength and prosperity of the western nations was due to logic
and rationally organized and operated organizations and institutions. The pragmatist faction held that Japan had its own unique and special strengths that needed to join with both western values and western systems of government.
Although the Meirokusha continued to function up to around 1900, the society's influence sharply declined after it was forced to cease publishing its journal following the introduction of the Press Ordinance and the Libel Law in 1875.
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
that published social-criticism journal Meiroku Zasshi (Meiroku Journal, 明六雑誌).
Proposed by statesman Mori Arinori
Mori Arinori
Viscount was a Meiji period Japanese statesman, diplomat and founder of Japan's modern educational system.-Early life:Mori was born in the Satsuma domain from a samurai family, and educated in the Kaisenjo School for Western Learning run by the Satsuma domain...
in 1873 (six years after the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
) and officially formed on 1 February 1874, the Meirokusha was intended to “promote civilization and enlightenment”, and to introduce western ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and the elements of western civilization
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
to Japan. It played a prominent role in introducing and popularizing Western ideas during the early Meiji period, through public lectures and through its journal, the Meiroku zasshi. Mori had been impressed by the activities of American educational societies during his stint (1871-1873) as Japan's first envoy to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was also influenced by Horace Mann
Horace Mann
Horace Mann was an American education reformer, and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1827 to 1833. He served in the Massachusetts Senate from 1834 to 1837. In 1848, after serving as Secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education since its creation, he was...
's views on universal education.
Its original members were:
- Mori ArinoriMori ArinoriViscount was a Meiji period Japanese statesman, diplomat and founder of Japan's modern educational system.-Early life:Mori was born in the Satsuma domain from a samurai family, and educated in the Kaisenjo School for Western Learning run by the Satsuma domain...
- Nishimura ShigekiNishimura Shigekiwas an educator and leader of the Meiji Enlightenment in Meiji period Japan. He also went by his pen-name of Nishimura Hakuo. He wrote more than 130 books and over 200 articles in his long literary career....
- Fukuzawa YukichiFukuzawa Yukichiwas a Japanese author, writer, teacher, translator, entrepreneur and political theorist who founded Keio University. His ideas about government and social institutions made a lasting impression on a rapidly changing Japan during the Meiji Era...
- Kato HiroyukiKato HiroyukiBaron was an academic and politician of the Meiji period Japan.-Biography:Katō was born to a samurai family in Izushi domain, Tajima Province , and studied military science under Sakuma Shōzan and rangaku under Oki Nakamasu in Edo...
- Mitsukuri RinshoMitsukuri RinshoBaron was a Japanese statesman and legal scholar in Meiji period Japan.- Early life :Mitsukuri was born in Edo to a noted family of scholars working for the Tokugawa bakufu. He studied rangaku and received a posting to the Bansho Shirabesho, the Shogun's research institute for foreign technology...
- Mitsukuri Shuhei
- Nakamura MasanaoNakamura Masanaowas a Japanese educator and leader during the Meiji period. He also went by his pen-name of Nakamura Keiu.Born to a samurai family in Edo, Nakamura was originally a Confucian scholar...
- Nishi AmaneNishi Amanewas a philosopher in Meiji period Japan who helped introduce Western philosophy into mainstream Japanese education.-Early life:Nishi was born in Tsuwano Domain of Iwami Province as the son of a samurai physician who practiced Chinese medicine...
- Tsuda MamichiTsuda MamichiBaron was a Japanese statesman and legal scholar in the Meiji period.-Early life:Tsuda was born into a local samurai household in Tsuyama Domain . In his early days, he studied rangaku under Mitsukuri Gempo and military science under Sakuma Shozan...
- Sugi Koji
The society grew to encompass a total of thirty-three members, including:
- Sakatani Shiroshi
- Kanda TakahiraKanda Takahirawas a scholar and statesman in Meiji period Japan. He often used the pen-name Kanda Kōhei.Kanda was born in the Fuwa District of Mino Province,...
- Maejima HisokaMaejima HisokaBaron was a Japanese statesman, politician, and businessman in Meiji period Japan, who founded the Japanese postal service.- Early life :Maejima was born as Ueno Fusagorō, in the village of Shimoikebe, Echigo Province . In 1866 he was adopted into the Maejima family. He was sent to Edo to study...
- Nagayo SensaiNagayo SensaiBaron was a medical doctor and statesman in Meiji period Japan.- Biography :Nagayo was born to a family of traditional physicians in Ōmura Domain, Hizen Province , and studied rangaku under Ogata Kōan in Osaka...
- Tanaka FujimaroTanaka Fujimarowas a statesman and educator in Meiji period Japan.Tanaka was born in Owari Province was a statesman and educator in Meiji period Japan.Tanaka was born in Owari Province was a statesman and educator in Meiji period Japan.Tanaka was born in Owari Province (present-day Aichi Prefecture. After the...
- Tsuda SenTsuda Senwas a politician, educator and writer in Meiji period Japan. He was one of the founders of Aoyama Gakuin university, and the father of noted author Tsuda Umeko.- Biography :...
- Ōtsuki FumihikoOtsuki Fumihikowas a Japanese lexicographer, linguist, and historian. He is best known for two Japanese-language dictionaries that he edited, Genkai and its successor Daigenkai , and for his studies of Japanese grammar.-Biography:Ōtsuki Fumihiko was born in the section of Edo in what is now part of Ginza,...
- William Elliot GriffisWilliam Elliot GriffisWilliam Elliot Griffis was an American orientalist, Congregational minister, lecturer, and prolific author....
This membership thus included some of the most leading educators, bureaucrats, and philosophers of 19th century Japan, from a variety of backgrounds. Most had studied both Confucianism
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
and western philosophy
Western philosophy
Western philosophy is the philosophical thought and work of the Western or Occidental world, as distinct from Eastern or Oriental philosophies and the varieties of indigenous philosophies....
, and most had experience in living abroad. The Confucian faction felt that the strength and prosperity of the western nations was built on a foundation of moral strength, and urged that Japan follow the same path. The western philosophy faction asserted that the strength and prosperity of the western nations was due to logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
and rationally organized and operated organizations and institutions. The pragmatist faction held that Japan had its own unique and special strengths that needed to join with both western values and western systems of government.
Although the Meirokusha continued to function up to around 1900, the society's influence sharply declined after it was forced to cease publishing its journal following the introduction of the Press Ordinance and the Libel Law in 1875.