usurpation

After the Zhou founding，Wu gave the territory to retainers.
Territory of the Duke of Zhou was the region of "Lu". (魯)

In short he was the founder of the country of Lu.
And 500 years later, Confucius was born in this country.

There may be it on one of the reason for the respect of Confucius.
Of course it was not only it.

Wu died shortly after the Zhou founding.
　
Therefore，when young prince took over his throne.
Royal authority of the Zhou had not been established clearly.

At that time，ability of Duke of Zhou was enough to become Zhou king.
But he did not select its action.
He helped the young king until the last as regent.

He did politics with a virtue.
He did not take the militaristic behavior never.　
　
As result，society became peace.
And he succeeded to establish of royal authority of the Zhou.

This period，he presided over the all of politics.
But later he returned politics to king who became the age of majority.

His politics of this period.
It is said to be the ideal of politics.

Of course，this is the story of three thousand years ago.
History and mythology would have mingled.
This episode might be like a Iliad of Homer.


・・・・・・・・・


Well，era progressed, around A.D. first year in China.
There was a man named "Wang Mang".　(王莽)

China was this era of "the Han dynasty". (漢)
Wang was a maternal relative of the Han royal family originally.  　

But he did usurpation of the throne from the Han dynasty.
And he was founded ”Xin Dynasty”. (新)　

By the way，Confucianism has respect for courtesy.
Although imperial examination has not yet begun，Confucianism had became a state religion already.
Probably after this, emphasis also came to be placed on loyalty.
　
"Usurpation of the position of the emperor."
And there was no such precedent yet as the stage of real history of China.
There was impossible in his actions.

"Holy emperor appeared.
Wang Mang is its person."
After all,he began to try to justify his actions.

Of course，the reason for this possible，it would be corruption of the Han dynasty inside.

the ideal saint

1860, Katsu had voyage to the United States along with the first envoy to United States.
He was ship captain.

”How was national character of the United States?”
After returning home,Katsu was asked so from "Yokoi Shōnan" of his friends. (横井小楠)
Yokoi was a Confucian scholar of Japan.

Katsu has described about the political system of the United States.

"It's a society of Yao・Shun." (堯舜)
In response to it, Yokoi replied so.

Yao and Shun.
It's China's legendary Holy emperors.
　
It is said that they had ruled the country with the virtue.
And it is said that they did not the hereditary of their throne.
They were handed over their position to a man of exceptional virtue.

They are the ideal saint of China.


・・・・・・・・・

　
By the way, the era of Confucius is ago in about 2500 years from now.
Even when viewed from that era，Yao and Shun era was mythology of ancient.

Person who Confucius was longing as human.
It's "the Duke of Zhou". (周公)

About 3800 years ago, a country called ”the Shang” was born in China.　(殷)
Its last king called ”Zhou”. (紂)
(Though confusing，these two people are different person.)

He was a very tyrant.
People had suffered greatly for him.
(Although this is due to the recording of the winner.)

Shang had dominated the neighboring countries with a mighty force.
One of its country was "the Zhou". (周)

About 3100 years ago,King of Zhou at that time named "Wu".　(武王)
Finally he stood up to overthrow Shang.

There is also cooperation of neighboring countries，it was successful.
Then he was founded the Zhou kingdom as a central state.

Little brother of Wu who made a very contribution to this founding.
He called duke of Zhou.

structurally

"Japan is not Confucian."
At that time、such images by foreigners may have been strong.
　
Meiji period of Japan in particular.
(after the Restoration.)
Japan was aiming earnestly Western modernization.
　
But an important driving force of the Restoration at first place.
It might be Confucianism.
　
Highest educational institution of Japan at Tokugawa era.
It was a school of Confucianism called "Shōhei-kō".　(昌平黌)
There was also Confucius Temple of course.

However，its situation is little different from Asia continent.　
Yes，Japan was the island nation in the marine transport status at that time.
Japan was a situation that is not subject to direct effect.

And Japan of Tokugawa era had taken the closed-door policy.
(Trade with China was done in only Nagasaki.)
And Japan did not adopt the imperial examinations.


・・・・・・・・・

　
Japan has not adopted originally imperial examination since the days of dynasty.
Because the power of the nobles was strong.
　
And Samurai regime was born from the 13th century.
So-called ”Shogunate politics”.　　
　
"Emperor of authority.
Shogun (Samurai king) of real power."
　
Power of Japan was dichotomized at that time.
(Of course from earlier，kingmaker in the interior of the dynasty was present.)
　
"Shogun is doing the politics of Japan who is delegated to the emperor."
And there was a public position like this.
　
Literal translation of "Shogun" is "General".（将軍）
And their government called "Bakufu". (幕府)
　
Of course these are originally Chinese language.
　
Headquarters of General during road trip.
It called Bakufu in ancient China.
Shogun was carried out operational command of war in this bakufu.
　
In other words, it was such a public position.
　
Imperial examination was a test to choose the officials for the emperor only.
Therefore loyalty to the emperor was important there.
This leads to a denial of the power of Shogun.

There was impossible the introduction of the imperial examination structurally.

please read lightly.

I'm reading a book about an overview of Confucianism now.

According to it，China of about hundred years ago.

After the fall of the Qing Dynasty. (清王朝)
Era of "The last Emperor" of the movie.

China began exploring modernization.

"Stubbornly sticking to old ways.
Culprit that inhibits the modernization of China."

Confucianism seems to have been condemned as such in its process.


・・・・・・・・・
　
　
Lu Xun san is a very famous Chinese writers. (魯迅)
He was studying in Japan these days.

"We may have been able to select a different history."
When I learned about this eras episode，I think so always.
　
"Will" of the persons making the future always.　
　
"We can select the future."
I also think so.
　
Well，it's episode of Lu Xun san of this time.　
One day，He was taken to the Confucius Temple of Tokyo Kanda by acquaintance. (孔子廟)
　
"Japanese also respect Confucius of China.
Probably this would be in his favor to show it."
　
Lu Xun san was also able to understand it.
　
"However・・・"
　
"I've run away from China by disgust against the Confucius.
Nevertheless，I did not think I would meet to Confucius in Japan."
　
He wrote humorously so.　
 　
At least，the part of the youth of China at that time.　
Their’s view to Confucianism was like that already.
　
　
・・・・・・・・・


"But currently, the country that has made economic development in the East.　　
It is a country under the influence of Confucianism.
(Of course also Japan.)"
　
Such a theory also seems to exist.

irresponsible constitution

Early 18th century,number of households was 400 and population was 1900 people.
But when kinjiro had been appointing in 1822，number of households became 156 and population became 749 people.

There is a distance of more than 100 years here certainly.
But the Tokugawa era was a peaceful time of 250 years.
There was no war with the exception of the initial and final stage

Sharp decrease of this population.
This only reason is the escape of farmers.
There would be impossible it.

Public-private collusion.

"We can not live otherwise."
Farmers might have had this idea at its starting point.
Their sufferings would have also been understood to officials.　

"If we have ostensibly status of 4000 koku.
Real is not a problem."　
　
Acceptance of the status quo.
While this is true and false exactly.　
They might have made ​​a decision like that.
　
"Yes，no problem.
Utsu family is branch of Odawara clan.
If we has hard times，head family will help us absolutely.
Therefore we will not become financial disaster.”

Although this would be irresponsible constitution of a kind.
They also may have had an idea like this.


・・・・・・・・・
　
　
"This situation is not good.
We have to improve this situation."　
　
Before Kinjiro、peoples who aspired to reform exists of course.
Kinjiro knew their presence and its narrative account in public office documents.
　
"Their reform all failed.
On the contrary the situation became worse.
Reason is simple.
Kinjiro said.
　
"Motivation of their reform.
It is not the improvement of the lives of farmers.
It was for samurai income.
　
Success of life of reformers themselves.
Probably there was also its reason.

They aimed to harvest of 4000 koku absolutely.
When little improve the situation of rural，they imposed heavy taxes immediately.
There is no reason to be successful in this.　

This land is full of lies surely.
But it is not the only public-private collusion.

Fief of 4000 koku.
As is too obvious，that's a lie in the first place.
　
The levy of  annual tribute of 4000 koku from this land.
It's absolutely impossible.
　
This rand is 2000 koku.
First we should clarify it."　

truth and falsehood

When it began.
I do not know clearly it.

The falsification of documents advantageous to farmers.
For example，they described to document the arable land as wasteland.
(Wasteland was a tax-exempt land.)

Adhesion of the people under Utsu family dominion and officials of Utsu family.
It became to be done frequently.
　
The tax evasion by the public and private sectors adhesion.
1822 circa，when kinjiro had been appointing.
It had become naturally.


・・・・・・・・・
　
　
Confucius of Chinese.
(孔子・551 BC - 479 BC)
He is the founder of Confucianism, which lead to the present.　

"If teacher has been left up the politics of the country.
What you will do first?"
He was asked so from his disciple.
 
"Truth and falsehood.
I will try to match the current situation and the public stance." (必也正名乎)
Confucius answered so.　

Incidentally，when translated ”必也正名乎” by Google translate.
(from Chinese to English)
It became "Must be rectified".
　
　
・・・・・・・・・
　
　
"This land is full of lies.
Truth and falsehood of this land.
I want clarify it as a first step of reform."
 　
Kinjiro might be thought so.
And he might have lobbied to Odawara clan of head family actively.

He has earned the confidence of Tadazane of Odawara lord of head family in the feudal era.　
This would have been his strength.
　
He began to challenge the status quo.　
And of course,there is a reaction naturally if there is action. 　
　
"He is a crook who deceive our lord.　
We should eliminate him as soon as possible."
　
At this time，it might have began whispering that way in Odawara clan.
　
Although this is a future event.
After the death of Tadazane,it manifests itself.　　　
　

flatterers

According to Hōtoku-ki.

"We are very pleased to meet you.
We think you will be tired.
Be ready for banquet of welcome."
　
Several influential people of the Utsu family territory.
They said to Kinjiro.
(They were people under the Utsu family dominion，not samurai.)

When Kinjiro has been appointed，they welcomed Kinjiro at the territory border.

"Thank you.
However，I am in a hurry.

But Kinjiro ignore it and he left there immediately.


・・・・・・・・・
　
　
"They came here expressly to see you.
I think this is an act of courtesy is lacking."
　
Travel companions of Kinjiro.　
After a few moments he said to Kinjiro.
　
"No problem.
They are flatterer.　

I came for reform.
They also know it of course.
　
Persons who approaching first to me.　
It's those who have some intention.　

Probably they are have a vested interests.　
I does not depend on such a thing.
I will push through strict reform.
There is a need to show it first."
　
After this，Kinjiro was not able to get their cooperation.
This would be of course.
　
And Kinjiro also probably wanted it for radical reform.

　
・・・・・・・・・

　
Flatterers tried to adhesion to Kinjiro.
This would be true.

"Hopefully, we will can water down the reform."
Probably,they would was also such intended.

Well，things which they were trying to protect by its act.　
It would have been right to life of the people under the Utsu family dominion.

Because they have suffered from every reform until now.

Their lives.
It had deteriorated at after every reform.