From the 17th century onwards, a comparative evaluation of feudal "hoken"(Ch. feng jian) and centralized bureaucracy "gunken"(Ch. jun xian) systems, took place among intellectuals in China and Japan. The discourses on these corresponding historical experiences were significant at the time for implementing domestic political reforms. This research project will not only investigate these discussions from the perspective of the relationship of central and local administration of the two systems but also those concerned with social order and ethics, education and learning, and the relationship between the nation and foreign powers. Focus will be placed on questions involving the civil service examination system versus a hierarchical class system and of relationships in the two systems with family structure and local community, the bureaucracy, and parliamentary democracy. Our comparative approach will extend to the intellectuals of both countries who, finding themselves under different conditions either defended or criticized their own political institutions by referring to the superiority or inferiority of the other's regime. By a comprehensive study of the above mentioned dimensions, this research project aims at a systematic inquiry into the meanings and the connotations of ideological connections within the larger cultural sphere of the Chinese tradition, of which Confucian thought serves as common ground. Furthermore, the respective characteristics of political transformation of the two nations stimulated by the intrusion of Western powers will be compared.

代表者	張 　　翔	中国復旦大学人文学院歴史系　　国際日本文化研究センタ－研究部 ・教授外国人研究員
Organizer	園田　英弘	国際日本文化研究センタ－研究部・教授
Team Researcher	苅部　　直	東京大学大学院法学政治学研究科・助教授
〃	佐藤　慎一	東京大学大学院人文社会系・教授
〃	陶　　徳民	関西大学文学部・教授
〃	中山　富弘	広島大学大学院教育学研究科・助教授
〃	本郷　隆盛	宮城教育大学人文学部・教授
〃	頼　　祺一	広島大学大学院文学研究科・教授
〃	渡辺　　浩	東京大学大学院法学政治学研究科・教授