“各安其分,各得其所”——论日本的等级制

"To Take One's Proper Station":On Caste System in Japan

日本的神道教中处于最顶端的神是天照大神(太阳神),日本传统神话中认为他在人间的后裔是日本天皇,他代表着世间至尊无上的天照大神实现"八紘一宇"(四海一家),统治全世界。只要按照其森严的等级架构"各得其所,各安其分"就可以稳定世界。等级制作为其文化核心被传承下来,影响日本社会的方方面面。

Okami Amaterasu（also known as the Sun Goddess） is at the top of the Shinto in Japan where traditional mythology considers the Emperor of Japan her human descendants who represents the supreme Amaterasu,to achieve the ＂eight corners of the earth united under a single roof（one world） ＂,and to rule the world.And it is believed that the world will be stable only if all the creatures follow the strict hierarchical structure： to take one＇s proper station.The current hierarchy system in Japan is inherited from that core and is affecting all aspects of Japanese society.This paper attempts to explain the performance of the caste system in Japan to study its impact in society＇s core role.