ABSTRACT
During the early part of 1862, the draft for the first lectures on Greek and European philosophy to be given in Japan was prepared at the Center for the Investigation of Barbarian Bcoks (Bansho Shirabe-sho) a by Nishi Amane b (1829-97). In order to distinguish it from Buddhist and Chinese thought, Nishi used the term Kitetsugaku c for Western philosophy. Kitetsugaku was a new word, the result, maybe, of discussion between Nishi and his friend and colleague at the Center, Tsuda Mamiehi d (1821-1903), who developed an early interest in philosophy. The new term became known in 1874, when Nishi printed it in his work Hyakuichi shinron e (A New Theory on the Hundred and One [Doctrine]).
