noun
General term for the study of morality and ethical principles.
彼は大学で道学を専攻している。
He is majoring in ethics at university.
noun
Confucianism; neo-Confucianism
Specifically refers to the study of Confucian thought, especially the Cheng-Zhu school of neo-Confucianism.
江戸時代には、道学が武士の教養として重んじられた。
During the Edo period, Confucianism was valued as part of a samurai's education.
noun
Taoism; Daoism
Refers to the study of Taoist philosophy.
老荘思想を中心とする道学は、中国の伝統的な学問の一つだ。
Taoism, centered on the thought of Laozi and Zhuangzi, is one of the traditional Chinese schools of learning.
noun
Shingaku; Edo-period moral philosophy
Historical term for a popular moral philosophy movement in the Edo period, also known as 石門心学.
See also: 石門心学
石田梅岩によって創始された道学は、町人の倫理を説いた。
Shingaku, founded by Ishida Baigan, taught ethics for the merchant class.
道教 is the common term for Taoism as a religion, while 道学 refers to the philosophical study of Taoism.
From 道 (path, way, moral principle) + 学 (study, learning). The term has been used historically to refer to various schools of thought centered on the concept of the 'Way' (道), including Confucianism, Taoism, and Edo-period moral philosophy.