Ogyū Sorai

Ogyū Sorai (荻生 徂徠; Japanese pronunciation: [o.ɡʲɯː (|) soꜜ.ɾai, o.ŋʲɯː-], March 21, 1666 – February 28, 1728), pen name Butsusorai/Bussorai (物徂徠), was a Japanese historian, philologist, philosopher, and translator. He has been described as the most influential such scholar during the Edo period Japan. His primary area of study was in applying the teachings of Confucianism to government and social order. He responded to contemporary economic and political failings of the Tokugawa shogunate, as well as the culture of mercantilism and the dominance of old institutions that had become weak with extravagance. Sorai rejected the moralism of Neo-Confucianism and instead looked to the ancient works. He argued that allowing emotions to be expressed was important and nurtured Chinese literature in Japan for this reason. Sorai attracted a large following with his teachings and created the Sorai school, which would become an influential force in further Confucian scholarship in Japan.