Kokugagu (National Learning)
Motoori Norinaga
(1730-1801)
“Strictly speaking, the modern history of Japanese culture has generally been in line with the concept of wayo-setchu.” (Japanizing, 11-12) |
Wayo-setchu entails mimesis.
Under this progressive form of learning, imitation is seen as a way to
create a new self from exogenous and endogenous elements. The basic
mental attitude which enables such progressive synthesis or symbiotic
coexistence is a hybrid consciousness: Disparate features are blended
into a new unity (setchu) of products, thought patterns or modern
life-styles, and this duality of Japanese and Western (wayo) is the
foundation of innovation in Japan. (Japanizing, 14)
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