明治时期日本人的自我认识

Japanese Self-Recognition in the Meiji Reform Period

日本人真正的自我认识始于 19世纪中期 ,它成为日本在现代社会中自我认识的起点。明治时期基本形成了日本人自我认识的若干流派 ,它历经各个历史时期 ,总是以不同的形式顽强地表现出来 ,影响一直延续至今。明治时期日本人自我认识的突出特点是深受“国运”的影响 ,以至出现明显的偏差。明治初期日本落后于欧美时 ,其民族自卑感十分强烈 ;一旦成为强国 ,则转向另一个极端 ,民族主义极度膨胀 ,最终走上了军国主义的道路。

A genuine self recognition on the part of the Japanese began in the mid nineteenth century, and marked the starting point of their self recognition in the modern world. A number of schools with different views on this concept emerged during the Meiji period, and these schools sought and found expression in various forms throughout successive historical periods, and their influence is felt even today. The dominant characteristic of the Japanese self recognition of the Meiji period was the sense of “national destiny”, which led to extremes in the Japanese outlook. During the early Meiji period, Japan lagged behind both Europe and the US, and the a national sense of inferiority was very strong. However, once Japan had become powerful, the Japanese nation jumped to the other extreme of inflated nationalism which led to the destructive road of militarism.