New theory - Shinron

This is a representative work by Aizawa Seishisai, a thinker from the end of the Tokugawa shogunate period in the Mito domain. It is also considered an important text of Mitogaku. In 1824 (Bunsei 7), he served as a writer during the British landing at Otsuhama in Mito domain, which triggered his sense of crisis. The book was written the following year with the intention of presenting it to the domain's lord, Narinobu, and was submitted through his teacher, Fujita Yukoku. However, because it was related to the shogunate's political orientation, it was copied and circulated throughout the country for over 30 years until it was published in 1857 (Ansei 4). The book is divided into two volumes, and consists of five essays and seven chapters: National Polity (Vol. 1, 2, and 3), Situation, Captivating Feelings, Defending Respect, and Long Plans. In the section on national polity, he spoke of the traditional Japanese spirit of loyalty, filial piety, martial arts, and respect for the people; in the section on state of affairs, he discussed the world's overall situation; in the section on captivation, he explained the reality of Western countries watching our country; in the section on defense, he spoke of enriching the country and strengthening its military; in the section on long-term planning, he arrived at the basis for educating the common people and stressed Shinto as the state religion. The argument for revering the Emperor and expelling the barbarians that runs throughout the book had a tremendous impact on young patriots in the late Edo period, and became the ideological background of the Meiji Restoration movement; however, he did not have a vision for the overthrow of the shogunate or the restoration of the monarchy, and instead affirmed the shogunate government and played a significant role in supporting the Tokugawa's rule over Japan.

[Muneyuki Yamaguchi]

"New Theory" edited by Yoshihiko Seya et al. (included in "Japanese Thought Series 53 Mitogaku", 1973, Iwanami Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

水戸藩幕末の思想家会沢正志斎(あいざわせいしさい)の代表的著作。水戸学の経典としても重要視される。1824年（文政7）イギリス人の水戸領大津浜上陸事件で筆談役を勤めた体験からの危機意識を直接の契機として、翌年、藩主斉修(なりのぶ)へ上呈の目的をもって述作され、その師藤田幽谷(ゆうこく)を経て提出された。しかし幕府の政治向きにかかわるため、公刊された1857年（安政4）までの30余年間、筆写されて全国に伝播(でんぱ)した。本書は上下2巻に分かれ、国体（上・中・下）、形勢、虜情(りょじょう)、守禦(しゅぎょ)、長計の5論7篇(へん)よりなる。国体で忠孝尚武、民を重んじた日本伝統の精神を述べ、形勢で世界の大勢を論じ、虜情で欧米諸国がわが国をうかがう実情を説き、守禦で富国強兵を語り、長計で庶民教化の大本(おおもと)に至り、国教としての神道(しんとう)を力説した。全篇を貫く尊王攘夷(じょうい)の主張は幕末期青年志士に甚大な影響を与え、明治維新運動の思想的背景となったが、倒幕・王政復古への展望をもつものでなく、あくまで幕府政治を肯定し、徳川の天下を支える意義を果たした。

［山口宗之］

『瀬谷義彦他校注『新論』（『日本思想大系53　水戸学』所収・1973・岩波書店）』

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