Benedict's Conception of Hierarchy in Japanese Social Structure(<SPECIAL NUMBER>The Problems Raised by The Chrysanthemum and the Sword)

Abstract

It is of great interest to find that Benedict has selected hierarchy in Japanese social structure as basic to Japanese mentality. But Japanese hierarchy differs from her conception. It is rooted in the relation between the so-called "oyakata (parent, master) and kokata (children, servant)", which in the village community, is expressed in the relation between honke (stock-family) and makke (branch-family). Such a honke=oyakata and makke=kokata hierarchy was already found in the old clan system, unified around the uji-gami (clan-god), and underlies the later and larger hierarchy such as the recent state structure with the Tenno at its summit. Also when any distinction of social status appears within professional groups, we have always had hierarchy of the same character. As Benedict asserts, Japanese obligations and their reciprocals are the product of hierarchy in Japanese society, but her statements require some correction and rearrangement. The obligations and their reciprocals are divided into vertical and horizontal relations, both of which are determined by the giri and the repayment of the giri. It is in the case of the vertical relation that we speak of the on and ongaeshi (repayment of the on).