Critical Readings on Japanese Confucianism facilitates more in-depth and profound understandings of the many dimensions of Confucianism in Japan by bringing together important studies from the disciplines of history, philosophy, and religion, as well as important texts in translation. Volume one examines historical unfoldings of Japanese Confucianism as a stimulating array of intellectual expressions operative from the beginnings of Japanese literary culture through the present. Volume two explores philosophical approaches to Confucian ethics, metaphysics, and political thinking. Volume three reveals important religious and spiritual dimensions of Confucianism. Reinforcing these, the final volume presents several Japanese Confucian texts in translation. Overall the volumes offer a vision of Confucianism as a dynamic and multifaceted force in ongoing developments of Japanese culture.