What do you think?
Rate this book
Sources of Japanese Tradition, Volume 2 Part 1 1600 To 1868
For almost fifty years, Sources of Japanese Tradition has been the single most valuable collection of English-language readings on Japan. Unrivalled in its wide selection of source materials on history, society, politics, education, philosophy, and religion, the two-volume textbook is a crucial resource for students, scholars, and readers seeking an introduction to Japanese civilization.
Originally published in a single hardcover book, Volume 2 is now available as an abridged, two-part paperback. Part 1 covers the Tokugawa period to 1868, including texts that address the spread of neo-Confucianism and Buddhism and the initial encounters of Japan and the West. Part 2 begins with the Meiji period and ends at the new millennium, shedding light on such major movements as the Enlightenment, constitutionalism, nationalism, socialism, and feminism, and the impact of the postwar occupation. Commentary by major scholars and comprehensive bibliographies and indexes are included.
Together, these readings map out the development of modern Japanese civilization and illuminate the thought and teachings of its intellectual, political, and religious leaders.
Originally published in a single hardcover book, Volume 2 is now available as an abridged, two-part paperback. Part 1 covers the Tokugawa period to 1868, including texts that address the spread of neo-Confucianism and Buddhism and the initial encounters of Japan and the West. Part 2 begins with the Meiji period and ends at the new millennium, shedding light on such major movements as the Enlightenment, constitutionalism, nationalism, socialism, and feminism, and the impact of the postwar occupation. Commentary by major scholars and comprehensive bibliographies and indexes are included.
Together, these readings map out the development of modern Japanese civilization and illuminate the thought and teachings of its intellectual, political, and religious leaders.
- GenresHistoryJapanNonfiction
615 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2006
1 person is currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
William Theodore de Bary
78 books21 followersWilliam Theodore de Bary was an East Asian studies expert at Columbia University, with the title John Mitchell Mason Professor of the University and Provost Emeritus.
De Bary graduated from Columbia College in 1941, where he was a student in the first iteration of Columbia's famed Literature Humanities course. He then briefly took up graduate studies at Harvard before the US entered the Second World War. De Bary left the academy to serve in American military intelligence in the Pacific Theatre. Upon his return, he resumed his studies at Columbia, where he earned his PhD.
He has edited numerous books of original source material relating to East Asian (primarily Japanese and Chinese) literature, history, and culture, as well as making the case, in his book Nobility and Civility, for the universality of Asian values. He is recognized as essentially creating the field of Neo-Confucian studies.
Additionally, DeBary was active in faculty intervention during the Columbia University protests of 1968 and served as the university's provost from 1971 to 1978. He has attempted to reshape the Core Curriculum of Columbia College to include Great Books classes devoted to non-Western civilizations. DeBary is additionally famous for rarely missing a Columbia Lions football game since he began teaching at the university in 1953. A recognized educator, he won Columbia's Great Teacher Award in 1969, its Lionel Trilling Book Award in 1983 and its Mark Van Doren Award for Great Teaching in 1987.
Now the director of the Heyman Center for the Humanities and still teaching, De Bary lives in Rockland County, New York.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_de_Bary
De Bary graduated from Columbia College in 1941, where he was a student in the first iteration of Columbia's famed Literature Humanities course. He then briefly took up graduate studies at Harvard before the US entered the Second World War. De Bary left the academy to serve in American military intelligence in the Pacific Theatre. Upon his return, he resumed his studies at Columbia, where he earned his PhD.
He has edited numerous books of original source material relating to East Asian (primarily Japanese and Chinese) literature, history, and culture, as well as making the case, in his book Nobility and Civility, for the universality of Asian values. He is recognized as essentially creating the field of Neo-Confucian studies.
Additionally, DeBary was active in faculty intervention during the Columbia University protests of 1968 and served as the university's provost from 1971 to 1978. He has attempted to reshape the Core Curriculum of Columbia College to include Great Books classes devoted to non-Western civilizations. DeBary is additionally famous for rarely missing a Columbia Lions football game since he began teaching at the university in 1953. A recognized educator, he won Columbia's Great Teacher Award in 1969, its Lionel Trilling Book Award in 1983 and its Mark Van Doren Award for Great Teaching in 1987.
Now the director of the Heyman Center for the Humanities and still teaching, De Bary lives in Rockland County, New York.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_de_Bary
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 10, 2010
I have the volume that says, "1600-1868" so it may not be exactly the same edition like the one featured here since I understand that they also have "1868-2000" coming out later as a separated book also.
Although this may seem like the authoritative book on sources of Japanese tradition for most English-speakers, and I must say it contains a lot, I still have my reservation. May be I'm a specialist that's why I think it overlooks some important Bushido literature, Budo Shoshinshu, that in fact was the more popular one it its time, the Tokugawa Period, than its sister publication, Hagakure, which became notorious only during World War II.
While Budo Shoshinshu was not even got mentioned at all, they devoted a whole chapter on Hagakure. In light of this alone, I sincerely believe the compilers simply miss the whole point if they really want to call their book, source of Japanest tradition.
Although this may seem like the authoritative book on sources of Japanese tradition for most English-speakers, and I must say it contains a lot, I still have my reservation. May be I'm a specialist that's why I think it overlooks some important Bushido literature, Budo Shoshinshu, that in fact was the more popular one it its time, the Tokugawa Period, than its sister publication, Hagakure, which became notorious only during World War II.
While Budo Shoshinshu was not even got mentioned at all, they devoted a whole chapter on Hagakure. In light of this alone, I sincerely believe the compilers simply miss the whole point if they really want to call their book, source of Japanest tradition.
Read
August 13, 2011Hm, that's weird. I have the 1600-2000 parts in two books, but they both show up as one and the same even though I used different ISBNs. Oh well.
February 26, 2016
Very, very good overview of Japanese history with an emphasis on primary sources.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews