Kaishisou - Hua-Yi Thought

Japanese: 華夷思想 - かいしそう

They considered China to be the most culturally superior central region in the world, and looked down on the surrounding countries as culturally backward and inferior, calling them barbarians and discriminating against them. Some considered that the standard that distinguished Hua and barbarians was a fundamental difference in blood, or the difference between humans and animals, but most placed it on the presence or absence of morality, differences in customs and systems, or in other words, cultural superiority or inferiority. Therefore, they believed that if the barbarians' culture improved, they would be able to eliminate discrimination and welcome them into China, realizing the ideal of a world nation. However, in reality, perhaps because they were too proud of the superiority of Chinese culture, they stubbornly refused to allow the barbarians to evolve, and did not easily accept them.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

華夏(中国)は世界のうちでもっとも文化の卓越した中央の地であるとし，周辺の諸国を文化のおくれた低劣の地と蔑視し，夷狄（いてき）と称してこれを差別する立場。華と夷を分かつ基準を，根源的な血液の違い，人と禽獣の差とする考えもないではないが，多くは道義性の有無，習俗や制度の相違，いわば文化的な優劣におく。だから夷狄も文化が向上すれば，差別を解消して中国に迎え入れ，世界国家の理想が実現するという。しかし実際には，中国文化の優越性への自負があまりに強烈なためか，夷狄の進化をかたくなに拒み，容易に受け入れない。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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