Article of the Seventeen-Article Constitution compiled by Prince Shotoku in 604, lectured by Toshiyuki Namai
Article 1 of the Seventeen Article Constitution compiled by Prince Shotoku in 604, lectured by Toshiyuki Namai
One of the most important concepts to understand the spirit of the Japanese people is harmony. What is called “Wa” in Japanese?
Through reflecting the Japanese history, we can find the spring of the Japanese harmony called “Wa” under the first article of the Constitution established by Prince Shotoku. The first Constitution established in Japan is that the 17 article Constitution compiled by Prince Shotoku in 604.
Article 1 of the Seventeen Article Constitution provide is that harmony is to be valued. This ancient Constitution in Japan was compiled on Confucian and Buddhism fundamentals. In addition, this Constitution had been performing as the main intellectual foundation for the sake of establishing a lot of national laws here in Japan historically.
As to the historical and cultural background of the Japanese people, most of the people here in Japan feel that this concept, harmony.
What is called "Wa" in Japanese is more important than argument, confrontation or self-assertion as well.