Japan is known to be a country full of mysteries. In "Qualifications Tongjian", Sima Guang reveals the true face of the Japanese for us with sharp brushstrokes. He pointed out that although the Japanese know small courtesies, they have no great righteousness, and they are obsessed with small things, but they have no great virtues. They attach importance to the, but they have no shame, they are afraid of power, and they do not have virtue and favor. Such national characteristics are also reflected in their behavior.
First of all, Sima Guang pointed out that the Japanese know small courtesies but not great righteousness. The so-called small etiquette refers to the etiquette and politeness in daily life. In Japanese society, these etiquettes are considered extremely important, even to the point of being rigid. However, on issues concerning the general interests of the country and the national agenda, the performance of the Japanese has been disappointing. They lack a sense of responsibility and mission for the country and the nation, and only focus on personal interests and immediate gains and losses. This kind of narrow-mindedness and short-sighted behavior has caused the Japanese to repeatedly fall into a passive situation in international affairs.
Secondly, the Japanese are obsessed with small things, but they have no great virtues. In everyday life, the Japanese pay great attention to detail, even to the point of triviality. Their pursuit of perfection and attention to detail deserves to be recognized. However, when it comes to morality, morality, and other virtues, the behavior of the Japanese is worrying. They focus too much on the superficial and lack the pursuit of inner qualities. This lack of virtue makes it difficult for the Japanese to gain credibility in the international community and to win the respect of others.
Moreover, the Japanese attach great importance to the stubble, but they have no shame. In traditional Japanese culture, sochredom is often seen as a form of honor and dignity. They believe that by doing the little things well, they can earn the respect and recognition of others. However, this excessive pursuit of stubble has led to a lack of cultivation of honesty and shame among the Japanese. They often do not hesitate to resort to all kinds of despicable means in order to pursue superficial honor and interests. This lack of honesty and shame not only damages the image of the Japanese people, but also hinders the progress of Japanese society.
Finally, Sima Guang pointed out that the Japanese are afraid of power and do not cherish virtue. In traditional Japanese culture, force is seen as the supreme force. As a result, Japanese people are often afraid of power and power, and do not dare to express their true thoughts and opinions. This fear is also reflected in their foreign policy, where they often resort to compromises and concessions in order to protect themselves. However, such fear does not lead to lasting peace and development. At the same time, the Japanese lack gratitude for favors and virtues. They only focus on immediate benefits and gains and losses, and ignore long-term development and cooperation.
To sum up, Sima Guang reveals the true face of the Japanese for us through the description in the "Qualification Tongjian". They know small courtesies but have no great righteousness, are disciplined but have no great virtues, attach importance to the last things but have no shame, and are afraid of power but not virtuous and benevolent. These characteristics also reflect the current situation and problems of Japanese society. Therefore, we should view Japan with an objective and rational attitude, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with them, and promote the healthy development of Sino-Japanese relations.
Japanese commentary in "Notes on the Living of the Kangxi Dynasty".
In "Notes on the Life of the Kangxi Dynasty", Emperor Kangxi's comments on Japan are also worth pondering. He pointed out that Japan is the most capricious country, and the people are humble and ignorant, and they are only afraid of might... Therefore, there can be no good color for Japan. This comment reflects the Kangxi Emperor's deep understanding and vigilance of Japan. He believes that the Japanese are low-minded, lack the knowledge and respect for etiquette and morality, and only fear power and power. This mentality is also reflected in their behavior, where they often resort to despicable means for personal gain and power struggles.
Even if China has a bodhisattva heart, it can't stop Japan's tiger and wolf heart. This sentence profoundly reveals the historical grievances and practical contradictions between China and Japan. Although China has been trying to establish friendly relations with Japan, Japan has never been able to be trusted and reassured in some respects. It also reminds us that we must be vigilant and cautious in handling our relations with Japan in order to safeguard our interests and dignity.
In short, both Sima Guang's comments and the comments of Emperor Kangxi reveal for us the true face and problems of the Japanese. In the face of such national characteristics, we need to remain vigilant and cautious, and we also need to look at Japan with an objective and rational attitude and seek ways of cooperation and development. Only in this way can we achieve a win-win outcome in China-Japan relations.