ABSTRACT

Confucianism is the foundation of East Asian culture sphere. In the first half of the twentieth century, however, the Non-Church Movement led by Uchimura Kanzo had significantly influenced Japan, Korea and Taiwan. The Non-Church Movement derived its inspiration mainly from Protestant Christianity, but it had also received influences from traditional Confucianism and Buddhism. It reflected the contemporary aspiration among the peoples influenced by Japanese culture for an East Asian Civilization. It is therefore also a belief that was tinged by nationalist feeling. Uchimura, however, was a pacifist; he was critical of emperor worship, militarism and Shindo belief that were rising in Japan. He made his name by not bowing to the “Imperial Rescript on Education.” As a result he had an enormous influence among many contemporary Japanese intellectuals. He was also greatly admired by the people in the Japanese colonies of Korea and Taiwan.

Many of Uchimura’s followers also adopted pacifist position and were opposed to Japanese militarist policy and imperialism. Of them, the most representative was Yanaihara Tadao. He was especially known for criticizing Japan’s colonial policies with ethical considerations, as well as with a rational and academically sound approach. As a result, he attracted a great following among the young people in Korea and Taiwan.

The days of Non-Church Movement have been long gone; the “culture sphere” it created in East Asia has also fallen apart. Reflecting on its brief history, one cannot but conclude that the Non-Church Movement had aspired for a “cultural sphere” similar to what Confucian thinkers had created. The critique of Japanese imperialism and militarism was based on a broad-minded nationalist sentiment that could only be persuasive because it was willing to be critical of the narrow-minded nationalism. Such a paradoxical attitude had its mesmerizing effects, and created, though unconsciously, an influence that was structurally similar to that of Confucianism-inspired “East Asian Cultural Sphere.” The success of both was in employing a fundamentally peaceful approach.

Key words: Kyōiku Chokugo, mukyōkai shūgi, Uchimura Kanzo, Yanaihara Tadao