OGYU SORAI

born March 21, 1666, Edo, Japan died Feb. 28, 1728, Edo one of the foremost Japanese scholars of Chinese culture and a leading Confucianist. Ogyu stressed the pragmatic application of Confucianism to promote social and political reforms by means of uniform, rational laws. He is also noted for his appreciative commentary on the revered shogunate ruler and administrative reformer Tokugawa Ieyasu (15431616).