Japanese Character and Christianity: A Study of Japanese Ethical Ideals as Compared With Teachings of Christianity

Abstract

I were to state chief characteristics of Japanese people, looking at them from ethical side I would say that there are especially four points which demand our attention. Without due appreciation of these we cannot understand Japanese. First, Giri, Sense of Ought. Giri is a term difficult of rendering into foreign languages. Reasonable, right, justice, ought, or German sollen, are all inadequate translations. In most cases giri conflicts with ninjo (human affections, natural feelings). What moves Japanese most in novels or in theatrical plays are those scenes in which conflict between giri and ninjo is represented. If you obey dictates of former, you can not obey latter: if you obey latter, you can not obey former; standing between giri and ninjo (between duty and natural affection), there is nothing left but to weep. A passage like this moves Japanese to tears. The scene in which Shigemori, of Taira clan, remonstrates with his father upon his plan of violence against emperor, is one of finest passages in Japanese history: If I am loyal, I can not be filial; if I am filial, I can not be loyal; here is my sore dilemma. This is an example of conflict between girt and ninjo. But, as according to Japanese saying, the most sacred relations must give way before great duties, so when duty demands, relation between father and son ceases to be; everything must be sacrificed on altar of duty. One's own interests or welfare can not be taken into consideration. Giri includes spirit of chivalry and self-sacrifice. A man who does not acknowledge these principles is despised as a man devoid of sense of giri.