A Study about Interpretations of Taoism in Early Modern in Japan.

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For the reception of Taoist thought in Japan, as regards exegesis interpreting the Lao-tzu 老子, the widespread utilization of Lin Hsi-i's 林希逸 Lao-tzu Yen-chai k'ou-i 老子〓斎口義 from the first part of the early modern period onward is of major significance. The text of Lao-tzu, however interpreted, encouraging seclusion and unworldliness, echoing anarchism, or connected with the thought of immortality, when so to speak passed through the filter of the Lao-tzu Yen-chai k'ou-i, came to permeate through to people living in the mundane world distanced from seclusion, unworldliness, anarchism and immortality. The instance of Hayashi Razan 林羅山, on the orders of the shogun, taking up his brush to write an interpretation of the Lao-tzu in Japanese based on the Lao-tzu Yen-chai k'uo-i may be a case of a true story illustrating the position held by Lao-tzu Yen-chai k'ou-i in early modern Japan. Now, such an ideal of interpreting Lao-tzu for practical learning derived from Lao-tzu Yen-chai k'ou-i was not restricted simply to the Japan of early modern times, but it is possible it has come down to the ontemporary Heisei 平成 ear.