Abstract
The purpose of this study is to clarify the influences of Herbartianism on school music education in Japan in the second half of the Meiji era. After surveying the process of adoption and development of Herbartianism in school music education in Japan, the author analyzes "Jinjo-Shougaku-Shouka" which was the most widespread music textbook at that time. In many songs of the "Jinjo-Shougaku-Shouka", the contents of the texts are related to other subjects, especially morals. The majority of the texts of the songs were versified in a simple style to foster nationalism or an esthetic sense in children. Some texts are about nursery stories, model figures in history, and important people who existed at that time. They are arranged in order of the history of cultural development. All songs are composed with consideration to the development of the vocal range of children. These features reflect the influences of Herbartianism. This inquiry also points out the differences between music education based on Herbartianism in Germany, and in Japan. These findings show the distorted interpretation of Herbartianism in the process of its introduction to Japan.
