Seiyō kibun and Arai Hakuseki’s View on Christianity

Abstract This article examines Arai Hakuseki’s understanding of Christianity as presented in Seiyō kibun (Records of Things from Western Countries), based on his interrogation of the Italian missionary Giovanni Battista Sidotti. Hakuseki’s critique of Christianity was rooted in Neo-Confucian reason-based thinking, rejecting Christian metaphysical concepts such as the soul and afterlife while situating Christianity as a derivative of Buddhism. Despite his opposition to Christian theology, Hakuseki embraced Western scientific knowledge, distinguishing between empirical and metaphysical domains. By analyzing Seiyō kibun alongside his Kishinron (Thesis on Spirits and Deities), this study reveals Hakuseki’s reason-based approach to religion and his role in shaping Tokugawa Japan’s intellectual engagement with the West. His work not only informed later anti-Christian discourse but also contributed to the broader discourse on Japan’s relationship with foreign knowledge. This article reassesses Hakuseki’s legacy in early modern Japanese thought, highlighting his nuanced perspective on Christianity and its place within Tokugawa intellectual history.