Writings of Hirata Atsutane 平田篤胤 (1776-1842)

From Kodō taii 古道大意

The capital in the center of Japan is thirty-some degrees from the equator. The eastern end of Japan is thirty-eight or thirty-nine degrees, and the western end is thirty-one or thirty-two degrees. This is why the climates of the four seasons are standard and harmonious. When comparing Japan to India and China, even though Japan is small, a country's value is not determined by size, but by the regularity of the four seasons. The people's inherent virtue determines their nobility or baseness. Because of this, if a country's land is extremely large, the character and customs of the people are many and varied, and therefore difficult to unify. The ruling line in China is often changing and in disarray, and it is difficult to stabilize for long periods of time. The size of Japan is neither too large nor too small. The customs and habits of the masses are shared and unified, so the people are easy to regulate and rule. This is why from the time of creation to the present day the Japanese imperial line has never changed. Of all the countries of the world, only Japan has been this way. Indeed, is this due to anything other than the divine wonder of our environment? ... The quality of the naturally protective environment is the best in the world .... The masses of people are descendants of the kami, and their way is the inherited teachings of the kami. The people love the pure and untainted and appreciate the simple and unadorned. Their way is benevolent and brave, and their wisdom is self-sufficient. This is due to the inherent divine virtue of Japan.

From Seiseki gairon 西籍概論

Let me present a few of the arguments advanced by scholars of Chinese learning. First of all, we may cite Dazai Jun, who wrote in Bendōsho, "In Japan there was originally no such thing as a Way. As proof of this there is the fact that no native Japanese words exist for the concepts of humanity, righteousness, decorum, music, filial piety, and fraternal affection. There certainly must have been a Japanese word for everything which originally existed in Japan, and the absence of such terms proves that the concepts were also lacking."

This opinion, shocking though it is, is not confined to this particular Confucian scholar. Far from it—the majority of the Confucian pedants and other scholars partial to things Chinese are overjoyed and infatuated with the idea that China possesses the teachings of a Way, and proclaim that in ancient Japan there were no teachings like those of China. But however much they may heap indignation on Japan, all that they assert is utterly in error. Humanity, righteousness, filial piety, and the rest are all principles governing the proper conduct of man. If they are always automatically observed and never violated, it is unnecessary to teach them. If they are the invariable standard of behavior, what need is there for a "Way?" . ..