Between Charity and Social Solidarity: Formation of Social Rights in Japan and China

Using a comparative historical sociological approach, this article aims to clarify the principle of “community” as a significant element of citizenship, by examining the ideas and policies of social rights in pre-World War II Japan and China. Efforts were made to create a personality with an ability to contribute to the community through “social solidarity” in both countries; however, there were differences in the understanding of “charity,” a concept that was regarded as the antithesis of “social solidarity” in Japan and China. In Japan, charity meant a paternalistic relief practice, or a giving with grace, by a so-called charitable person. Therefore, the idea of social solidarity, or sociability in everyday family and local community life, and charitable persons who acted in the “spirit of seeking nothing in return,” were emphasized. In China, in contrast, charity meant a practice of providing relief without “organization” or “selfish governance,” depending on such a contingent factor as the personal abilities of gentry who did charitable work. For this reason, founding and establishing an organization, and finding and training a person who was able to unify and run the organization, were important tasks in China. This article has clarified how the different principles involved in integrating communities were produced in the two countries: the spirit of self-sacrifice in Japan, and the strong commitment to organization in China.