Motoori Norinaga (本居 宣長 1730 - November 5 1801 ) was a scholar during the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

His teachings emphasize the kokugaku which is based on denying all foreign influence on Japanese culture. A central and most important element of his teachings is the Kojiki. Any foreign and especially Chinese influence, which had the greatest impact on Japanese culture so far, could not originate from Amaterasu and was thus considered as a befouling of the pure Japanese culture.

Norinaga also named the concept of mono no aware, the sorrow which results from the passage of things. He saw it as a distinctive characteristic of classical Japanese literature.

Timeline

• 1730 - Born as first son
• Education:
  • At the age of seven he could already read and write
  • 11 years old reciting Noh theatre pieces and Confucian classics
  • 13y. visiting the shrine of Yoshino
  • 16y. archery
  • 18y. Japanese tea ceremony
  • 19y. advanced confucian training
• 1748 - Norinaga is adopted by the Imaida family but after only 2 years the adoption reversed.
• 1751 - His stepbrother dies.
• 1752 - Went to Kyoto to study medical science
• 1752-57 - Some scholars note his productivity, Motoori produces 2000 Waka and 40 books and copies 15 others.
• 1757 - He reads the first book from Kamo no Mabuchi named kanji ko. Lacking money he returns to his hometown to open a doctor's practice.
• 1760 - Arranged marriage with Murata Mika, but only 3 months later divorced again.
• 1762 - Marries Kusubuka Tami and one year later their son Haruniwa is born.
• 1763 - He meets with Kamo no Mabuchi who tells him to read the nihonshoki and the man'yoshu
• 1764-71 - He studies the kojiki, starting with this he begins to spread his teachings
• 1801 - Dies.

See also

• Japanese nationalism