Japanese psychoanalysis and the Ajase complex (Kosawa).

Abstract

In 1932, Kosawa visited Freud at 19 Berggasse, and submitted to him a paper entitled: 'Two kinds of guilt feelings, the Ajase complex. In his paper, Kosawa expounded his theory of the Ajase complex, rooted in Buddhist thought. He discussed the psychological peculiarity of the Japanese as evidenced by the acceptance of oral dependency toward the mother, the repression of the resentment at the mother and 'guilt feeling over being forgiven' and a need to make restitution for harboring this evil intent. This type of guilt feeling is quite different from the guilt feeling as a fear of punishment which Freud embodied in his theory of the Oedipus complex.