The Emergence of Merchant Schools During the Kyoho Period (1716-1736) in Early Modern Japan

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the emergence of merchant schools and the merchant spirit of the samurai society in Kyoho period (1716∼1736) of the Edo Shogunate. Research design, data, and methodology: The research direction of this study was determined through previous research, and a comparison was made between Kaitokudo(懐徳堂), a government-run merchant school, and Singakugosha(心学講舎), a private merchant school, through their establishment backgrounds. Results: Kaitokudo was founded in Japan’s early modern society by the power of merchants, and the merchant school was sanctioned by the shogunate and emerged as a government institution, which is probably one of the most important schools in the world. This is a rare phenomenon, and is seen as a result of the intellectual equalization of merchants and samurai. Meanwhile, Shingaku Kosha, a private merchant school, was founded by Ishida Baigan(石田梅岩). Ishida Baigan asserted the legitimacy of merchants and commerce, which had been looked down upon in the past, instilled pride in merchants, elevated them to the philosophy of “merchant’s ways,” and led them to Sekimon Shingaku. It expanded and became the spiritual origin of Japanese capitalism. Implications: If we think about it from the standpoint of South Korea, which is also a Confucian country, we can see that it justified the “merchant’s profession and the profits earned by merchants,” which were considered debased until the 18th century, and equated (merchant’s) profits with (samurai’s) offerings. This led to the equalization of the duties of merchants and samurai (Korea: 兩班), which was a revolutionary idea at the time, and was popular in Japan during the Kyoho(亨保)period (1716-1736). It must be said that this was a major event, and a world historical event in the Asian world, something that had never been seen before in Europe, Korea, or China.