Cardinal Principles of the National Entity of Japan
1937
Kokutai No Hongi or the Cardinal Principles of National Entity of Japan was compiled by
the Ministry of Education in 1937. This
Japanese wartime book is based on the Japanese national structure. Kokutai is linked to the spiritualism of
Shinto. Kokutai or National Essence
serve to inspire the unifying ideology and provided a national political
framework for Japan as a system of constitutional monarchy which they had
borrowed this idea under the Meiji Constitution of 1889. The
Cardinal Principles of National Entity of Japan states that loyalty means
self-sacrifice. The Cardinal Principles accredits the Meiji restoration for
introducing efforts to set up some type of educational system for teaching the
Japanese ideas of the West in national Science, mental sciences. Additionally, Confucian ethics during the
Tokugawa period (1603-1867) led the martial spirit of Japan. Confucianism
and filial piety became an essential function in which obedience to authority
was stressed. Filial piety emphasized
duty and described the correct way to act towards one’s parents. This consists of many factors such as being
polite, considerate, respectful, helpful, obedient, dutiful, and loyal. This attitude embraces the spirit of harmony
embracing Japan as a family nation.
Japan valued bushido or the way of the warrior. Bushido represented a sense of obligation
binding the master with the servant.
Bushido was the code of conduct for the samurai class of Japan. Bushido became the soul of Japan in which qualities
that were admired consisted of loyalty, honor, self-control, kindness,
politeness and courage. Through
Buddhism, Shintoism, and Confucianism, Bushido’s moral guidelines were handed
down over hundreds of years by the Japanese warriors or Samurai.
I believe
that replacing feudal lords or daimyo as the object of loyalty and sacrifice
contributed to Japan’s nationalism. Cardinal
Principles of National Entity of Japan also strengthened wartime civilians’
obedience. I conclude that Bushido’s
code of conduct of the samurai class influenced moral concepts among the
Japanese culture. Furthermore, I
accredit Kokutai gave the Japanese people a sense of identity and management.
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