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Primary Source Documentwith Questions DBQs)

E X E R P T S F R O M S H I N R O N N E W T H E S E S ) : T H E B A R B A R I A N S N A T U R E b y A i z a w a S e i s h i s a i

Introduction Aizawa Seishisai (1781-1863) was an important Confucian scholar and tutor to the lords of Mito, a branch of theTokugawa family. Aizawas greatest work, Shinron (New Theses), was written in 1825, in the wake of a string ofincidents of Western ships entering Japanese waters. Now considered a seminal contribution to Japanese nationalistthought, Shinrontapped into rising sentiments in Japan supporting a more active political role for the emperor and afirm stand against the intrusions of Western barbarians. Aizawas writings, as well as the work of other scholars inwhat was known as the Mito School, would later prove an inspiration to the detractors of the Tokugawa shogunate

who rallied around the slogan sonn!j!i(revere the Emperor and expel the barbarians).

Selected Document Excerpt with Questions (Longer selection follows this section)From Anti-Foreignism and Western Learning in Early-Modern Japan,by Bob Tadashi Wakabayashi (Council on East Asian Studies,Harvard University, 1986), 208-209, 213.

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Questions: 1. How would you characterize Aizawas view of the West?2. Given Japans historical experience dealing with the West, do you think that

Aizawa is at all justified in his views?

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Primary Source Document with Questions DBQs) onEX ERPTS FROM SHINRON NEW THESES): THE BARBARIANS NATURE, BY AIZAWA SEISHISAI

Asia for Educators l Columbia Univers ity l http://afe.easia.columbia.edu Page 2 of 3

3. How does Aizawa feel about Tokugawa policy toward and preparations forthe Western threat?

4. What does Aizawa believe is Japans proper course of action in confrontingthe barbarians?

5. Why is it significant that Aizawa calls Japan our Middle Kingdom?

Longer Selection From Anti-Foreignism and Western Learning in Early-Modern Japan,by Bob Tadashi Wakabayashi (Council on East Asian Studies,Harvard University, 1986), 208-209, 213.

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Primary Source Document with Questions DBQs) onEX ERPTS FROM SHINRON NEW THESES): THE BARBARIANS NATURE, BY AIZAWA SEISHISAI

Asia for Educators l Columbia Univers ity l http://afe.easia.columbia.edu Page 3 of 3

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