ABSTRACT
A ndoShoeki(1703-62)isnowadaysknownasanoriginalthinkerwhoseideasbrokeloosefromthemainstreamof Japanesethoughtofmid-Tokugawa.HerejectedbothConfucianandBuddhisttraditionswhosespreadinJapanhe describedasresultinginthedegradationofasocietyofancient timesonceharmoniousandpristine.Inspiteofhishumblesocial positionandlifeinadistantprovinceShoekiboldlychallenged theacknowledgedauthoritiesandwaysofthinking.Dissatisfied withthepoliticalandsocialsituationofcontemporaryJapanhe stroveforwhatheperceivedasa'betterreality'.Hedreamtof travellingabroadanddespitethefactthathisattemptstoleave thecountrynevermaterialized,heusedeveryopportunityto learnmoreaboutforeigncountries.
