国学

Chinese

For pronunciation and definitions of 国学 – see 國學 (“study of Chinese history, language and culture; sinology; Chinese studies; etc.”). (This term is the simplified form of 國學).

Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Japanese

Kanji in this term
国	学
こく Grade: 2	がく Grade: 1
on’yomi

Alternative spelling
國學 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

From Middle Chinese compound 國學／国学 (kwok hæwk, “nation + learning”). Compare modern traditional Min Nan 國學／国学 (kok-ha̍k).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) こくがく [kòkúgákú] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ko̞kɯ̟ᵝɡa̠kɯ̟ᵝ]

Noun

国(こく)学(がく) • (kokugaku) 

1. The study of ancient Japan, particularly the early Japanese classics, such as the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki. Arose during the Edo period as a move away from the study of Buddhism and (Neo-)Confucianism.

   Note that this term means sinology in Chinese contexts.

2. Schools established in the kuni or provinces of Japan under the old Ritsuryō system.
3. In ancient China, schools established in the national capital.

Derived terms

• 国学者(こくがくしゃ) (kokugakusha): a scholar of ancient Japanese studies

Further reading

• 国学 on the Japanese Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^ja
• Kokugaku on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Ritsuryō on Wikipedia.Wikipedia