Exploring Korean Confucianism Studies at Keijō Imperial University: The Legacy of Fujitsuka Chikashi (1879–1948)’s Work and His Academic Networks

This article explores the complex relationship between the study of classical Chinese philosophy in Japan and Korean Confucianism, focusing on Fujitsuka Chikashi (1879–1948), a professor at Keijō Imperial University. Despite his important contributions, Fujitsuka's role has been less examined compared to contemporaries like Takahashi and Abe Yoshio. Serving as a professor of Chinese philosophy (J. Shina tetsugaku) from 1926 to 1940, Fujitsuka concentrated on the interactions of Kim Chŏnghŭi (1786–1856), a key figure in Korean Confucianism, with prominent Qing scholars. This study highlights how Fujitsuka, along with Takahashi, facilitated academic exchanges between Japanese and Korean Confucian circles, thereby influencing the exploitation of Korean Confucianism in Japanese academia in a colonial context. Their sporadic research on Korean Confucianism at KIU played a significant role in shaping Japanese perceptions of Confucianism. The establishment of a formal network of Confucian researchers at KIU not only legitimized Korean Confucian studies among Japanese scholars but also contributed to the emergence of a new academic flow. By examining the dynamic academic environment at KIU, particularly the cluster of Fujitsuka and Takahashi, this study reveals how their individual research merged into a wider Confucian discourses in Japan, that bridged Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Confucian traditions. This collaboration began to align with imperial ideologies, particularly the Pan-Asianist concept of Kōdō Judō (Imperial Way Confucianism). Furthermore, the article contextualizes the connections of Japanese scholarship on Korean Confucianism within the broader discourse of Confucianism in Japan during the colonial period. The Shibunkai, a pivotal organization, exemplifies how Japanese Confucian groups sought to align their studies with imperial ideologies, ultimately reshaping the academic landscape and facilitating Japan's cultural hegemony.