가이바라 에키켄(貝原益軒)의 교육사상에 관한 연구

Abstract

The educator and philosopher Kaibara Ekiken, has long been seen as a model for the intellectuals of the Edo period. He is regarded as the progenitor of modern education in Japan and is seen in Japan in a similar light as Aristotle. In this study, the social situation of the Edo period, the life of Ekiken, and his book 『Wazokudozikun』 were comprehensively analyzed to find out about the educational thought process of Ekiken and the resulting social effects. As a result, conclusions were drawn about the educational period, content, and method of education that Ekiken was aiming for. By paying attention to the importance of early childhood in the 'human formation', he tried to awaken young children through a process of 'education without teaching' as well as impacting the beginning and end of things as early as possible. It is speculated that Ekiken's educational ideas influenced not only the ruling class of warriors, but also the education of the merchant class. In particular, it is likely that it had a significant impact on the establishment of Terakoya, (the basic educational institution of merchants), as well as the education without teaching of Detchi Bonggong. This research paper will show that, Ekiken should be evaluated as a “master of the early modern period of education in Japan” rather than as the “beginning of the modern education period in Japan.”