This book discusses the structural differences between traditional Chinese and Japanese political culture from three perspectives. The first part, "Imperial Power and Revolution: The Legitimacy of Political Power", analyzes the differences in the sources of legitimacy of traditional Chinese and Japanese political power and the structure of political power from the historical perspectives of China's continuous "dynasties" and Japan's so-called "unbroken dynasty"; the middle part, "Counties and Feudalism: State Form and Social Structure", points out the differences between traditional China and Japan in the relationship between the central government and local governments; the last part, "Royal Power and Gods and Buddhas: Ideology and Religious Beliefs", discusses the differences between China and Japan in the relationship between politics and religion.
本书从三个角度讨论中日传统政治文化的结构性差异。上篇“皇权与革命：政治权力的合法性”，从历史上中国不断“改朝换代”与日本所谓“万世一系”，来分析传统中日政治权力合法性来源与政治权力结构上的差异；中篇“郡县与封建：国家形态与社会结构”，指出传统中国与日本在中央与地方关系上的差异；下篇“王权与神佛：意识形态与宗教信仰”，讨论了中日两国在政教关系上的不同。
本书从三个角度讨论中日传统政治文化的结构性差异。上篇“皇权与革命：政治权力的合法性”，从历史上中国不断“改朝换代”与日本所谓“万世一系”，来分析传统中日政治权力合法性来源与政治权力结构上的差异；中篇“郡县与封建：国家形态与社会结构”，指出传统中国与日本在中央与地方关系上的差异；下篇“王权与神佛：意识形态与宗教信仰”，讨论了中日两国在政教关系上的不同。
