Ogi Sorai

Ogi Sorai (1666-1728), an innovative Confucian scholar, challenged orthodox Neo-Confucianism through his Kobunjigaku (Ancient Studies School). Unlike contemporaries who focused on metaphysical speculations, Sorai emphasized:

• Practical governance solutions
• Historical textual analysis
• Institutional reforms based on Zhou dynasty classics

His seminal work Bendō (Distinguishing the Way) argued that ethical principles must evolve with societal needs, directly opposing Tokugawa shogunate's rigid ideology. Sorai's students became influential policymakers, implementing his ideas on currency reform and agricultural development. Though controversial, his empirical approach laid groundwork for Japan's later modernization.