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Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the reception of the philosophy of G. W. Leibniz in the Meiji-Taisho period and clarifies that effect on the contemporary study of philosophy in Japan ever since. Especially, this paper insists on the importance of interpretations of Leibniz's theory made by Tadayoshi Kihira.

Paper long abstract:

The purpose of this paper is to explore the reception of the philosophy of G. W. Leibniz (1646–1716) in the Meiji-Taisho period (1868–1925) in Japan. Such study is important for understanding the formation of the contemporary situation of the western philosophy study in Japan. I've divided this study into three parts.

Firstly, this paper introduces Leibniz's life and thoughts. He had many works in various fields, for example, mathematics, logic, physic, theology, law, politics, history, medicine, sinology, and so on. After that introduction, this paper clarifies what of these works is important for understanding the reception of his philosophy in Japan.

Secondly, this paper deals with fundamental information on the reception of western philosophy in the Meiji-Taisho period in Japan. This is because Japanese original philosophical theory “the principle of phenomenon namely real (現象即実在論)”, which appeared in Meiji-era, was interpreted as similar to Leibniz's philosophy. For some of the early modern western philosophers, phenomena are just appearances and need support from real beings, for example, souls, substances, forms, and so on. Against this theory, Japanese philosophers thought phenomena and real beings should not be divided. In this point, since Leibniz’s philosophy is also not dividing both, Some Japanese philosophers connect “the principle of phenomenon namely real” with Leibniz’s philosophy.

Finally, this paper explores the steps of reception of the philosophy of Leibniz in Japan. This section tries to clarify three steps of the reception of Leibniz's philosophy and, according to the interpretation of Leibniz on the second-step, will confirm that his theory agrees with the Japanese philosophers' theory. Especially, this paper pays attention to the theory of the “pre-established harmony” of Leibniz and clarifies that Japanese philosophers tried to connect Leibniz’s theory with our principle in the Meiji-Taisho period.

The last part of this paper insists on the importance of interpretations of Tadayoshi Kihira (1874–1949) who was one of the first Japanese researchers of Hegelian philosophy. He discovered the possibility of application of Leibniz’s pre-established harmony to Japanese philosophy on the background of Hegelian philosophy. Therefore, this paper explores also his effect on Japanese philosophical studies ever since.