Abstract:

Ogyu Sorai's (1666-1728) theory of Heaven and humanity boasts profound ideological connotations and multiple dimensions. Regarding the concept of“Heaven,” it encompasses five layers of meaning: nature, the Mandate of Heaven,the Way of Heaven, cosmic operation, and spirits.Accordingly, the relationship between Heaven and humanity manifests in two distinctive theoretical forms: distinction and correlation.From a historical perspective, Sorai broke away from the moral determinism of traditional Confucianism, arguing that rational human affairs, institutional construction, and the interaction between Heaven and humanity constitute the core factors determining social rise and fall.His discourse on spirits differs from religious beliefs that regard them as spiritual sustenance, nor does it delve into transcendent metaphysical speculation about the" otherworld."Instead, he upheld the rational attitude of“respecting spirits yet keeping them at a distance,” viewing sacrifices to spirits as the origin of ritual-musical civilization and the awakening of life consciousness. Overall, rationalism constitutes the core feature of Sorai's theory of Heaven and humanity, as well as the Ancient Learning School. The formation of this theory demonstrates that by assimilating and reconstructing Confucian doctrines, Sorai sought to explore the balance and interactive mechanism between Heaven and humanity, with the fundamental premise that Heaven, Earth, and humanity are all living entities.

Published on Foreign History Studies, Issue 2, 2026.