從古老的日本到近代的明治維新綿延千年以上的悠久歲月，在學問上被廣泛地鑽研議論而且影響最深遠的，恐怕非儒學莫屬。 對此儒學，在德州幕府以前，日本學者幾乎一面倒地傾慕推崇。然一旦進入江戶時代，朱子學雖還曾被指定為官學，惟隨著儒學的庶民化，這個中國古老而博大精深的學問，卻因樹大招風而遭到國粹主義者熾烈的反彈與批判。而開其先河者即為山鹿素行。 但是，山鹿素行從反動意識所產生的批判或言論，到底是否客觀？細研山鹿素行的著作〈中朝事實〉，不難發見偏向於自我誇示與利己主義，且多過分的自衛性辯解，其藐視中國儒學的意圖相當明顯，卻無法規避儒學的精妙奧義，自暴其治學矛盾之短。本論文即從儒學的立場上，究明山鹿素行隱藏於〈中朝事實〉著作中的國家主義思想。
For thousands of years from ancient Japan to the modern times of Meiji restoration, it can be no doubt that Confucianism is the most frequently discussed subject and had the most profound impacts on Japanese thinking, compared with other doctrines at the same time. Japanese scholars had exclusively admired and promoted Confucianism before the time of Shogunate of Tokugawa., However, although the Chu Tzu doctrine was designated as governmental school of thought upon into the times of Edo, the ancient and profound school of thought was seriously opposed and criticized by the nationalists as a result of its fine reputation in scholarship and the popularized Confucianism. The first nationalist who had taken this critical position was Yamaga Sokou. Nonetheless, it has to be doubted that Yamaga Sokou's criticism and opinions which come from backlash thinking are objective. As we come closer to look at his writing The historical facts of Chuuchou, which would reflect his thinking to a certain degree, it tends to be self-promoted and egoist in its contents and also to be self-defensive in its nature to say at the least. The main purpose of this book was nevertheless trying to despise Chinese Confucianism, which not only revealed that it could not challenge against the delicacy and profundity of Confucian ideology but also revealed its self-contradiction. This article is therefore based upon Confucian stand point to disclose the nationalistic thoughts hidden behind the book The historical facts of Chuuchou.
