The Imperial “Civil Religion” and seikyō bunri: The Historical Process of Secularization in Modern Japan, from the Perspective of “Confucianism” (1868–1945)
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Eddy Dufourmont
Abstract
Since most of the studies of secularism in Japan have focused on the shintō and the so-called “State shintō” of modern imperial Japan (1868-1945), the article will contribute on the debate in two ways: first by discussing the historicity of the secularism in Japan from the point of view of Jean Baubérot’s theory, second by discussing the role of Confucianism in the formation of imperial ideology. To achieve this goal, the article will focus on the formation of the word seikyō bunri (separation between State and religion) as translation word for secularism, and discuss this process of translation at crossroads between European philosophy and Chinese thought. With their Confucian background, their emphasis on Imperial restaurationism and their interest to French laïcité, Japanese Statemen imagined a State shintô as “civil religion”, while some of their Democrat opponents, with the same background and same interest to French secularism, had a complete different political agenda and were even atheists. The result of this process of circulation of the word secularism and of this political struggle was the establishment of a State shintō, which pretended to definite Japanese State by a shintoist cult of the emperor while proclaiming freedom of belief. Thus, the imperial period can be characterized as what Baubérot calls “closed pluralism” in the process of secularization.
Abstract
Since most of the studies of secularism in Japan have focused on the shintō and the so-called “State shintō” of modern imperial Japan (1868-1945), the article will contribute on the debate in two ways: first by discussing the historicity of the secularism in Japan from the point of view of Jean Baubérot’s theory, second by discussing the role of Confucianism in the formation of imperial ideology. To achieve this goal, the article will focus on the formation of the word seikyō bunri (separation between State and religion) as translation word for secularism, and discuss this process of translation at crossroads between European philosophy and Chinese thought. With their Confucian background, their emphasis on Imperial restaurationism and their interest to French laïcité, Japanese Statemen imagined a State shintô as “civil religion”, while some of their Democrat opponents, with the same background and same interest to French secularism, had a complete different political agenda and were even atheists. The result of this process of circulation of the word secularism and of this political struggle was the establishment of a State shintō, which pretended to definite Japanese State by a shintoist cult of the emperor while proclaiming freedom of belief. Thus, the imperial period can be characterized as what Baubérot calls “closed pluralism” in the process of secularization.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Asian Secularism from Words to Concepts and Practices 1
- Entangled Multiple Modernities and the Variety of Secular States 19
- Laicity, Secularism, Secularization(s): A Few Hypotheses 43
- Secularism in Asia 61
- Pancasila in Indonesia a “Religious Laicity” Under Attack? 71
- Religion, Secularization, and Counter-Secularization in Bali 93
- States, Religions and Modernities for one Nation: Historicizing a Converging Secularization in Twentieth Century Vietnam 115
- Indian Secularism: an Original Accommodation of Religious Plurality Endangered from Within? 145
- The Imperial “Civil Religion” and seikyō bunri: The Historical Process of Secularization in Modern Japan, from the Perspective of “Confucianism” (1868–1945) 163
- Chinese Interpretations of French Secularism in the Early Twentieth Century 187
- ‘Religion’ as an Issue in Political Transition: Two Competing Secularities in Buddhist Burma (Myanmar) 205
- A Twisted Secularity. Anti-Religious Ideology vs Secularity and Secularization in Twentieth Century Mongolia 229
- Index 245
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Asian Secularism from Words to Concepts and Practices 1
- Entangled Multiple Modernities and the Variety of Secular States 19
- Laicity, Secularism, Secularization(s): A Few Hypotheses 43
- Secularism in Asia 61
- Pancasila in Indonesia a “Religious Laicity” Under Attack? 71
- Religion, Secularization, and Counter-Secularization in Bali 93
- States, Religions and Modernities for one Nation: Historicizing a Converging Secularization in Twentieth Century Vietnam 115
- Indian Secularism: an Original Accommodation of Religious Plurality Endangered from Within? 145
- The Imperial “Civil Religion” and seikyō bunri: The Historical Process of Secularization in Modern Japan, from the Perspective of “Confucianism” (1868–1945) 163
- Chinese Interpretations of French Secularism in the Early Twentieth Century 187
- ‘Religion’ as an Issue in Political Transition: Two Competing Secularities in Buddhist Burma (Myanmar) 205
- A Twisted Secularity. Anti-Religious Ideology vs Secularity and Secularization in Twentieth Century Mongolia 229
- Index 245
