Abu Dhabi, Dec.17th,2007 (WAM) -- The Center for Information Affairs has redistributed 2000 copies of the book ?Japan: Culture and Civilization? to the universities, research centers, media men, and cultural institutions on the occasion of the visit to Japan by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The book deals with the roots of Japanese culture, especially as embodied by the relationship between Japanese spiritual thought and the state, and the effects of this relation on the emergence of Japanese civilization.

It explains the relation between the spiritual past and the contemporary present with regard to the issues of thought, morals, and human sciences.

The study states that Japan has witnessed in modern age great progress in cultural and industrial fields, and rapid changes in contemporary lifestyles. It points out that this requires a serious attempt to unveil the causes of this awakening as well as the secrets of Japanese spirit that drives this human miracle.

It presents analytical reading of the history of Japanese thought, displaying its major sources: The Shinto thought, the Confucius school, and the Buddhist thought, which disappeared behind the temples? walls.

It defines the Shinto thought as ?a set of ancient beliefs and traditions that has developed in Japan throughout ages and became in modern time the dominating force in Japanese life, being the main spiritual source of social and economic thought?.

The book goes through the history of ancient Japanese society, from the early stages of metal civilization, class stratification, and emergence of the state and empire to modern time. Class system in Japanese old society consisted of big families at the top, followed by peasantry, then slaves at the bottom.

The study touches upon the impacts of popular beliefs on the populace?s though, especially the Japanese creation myth related to the god emperor, and the role of Japan?s two most ancient books: Nihon shoki (Chronicles of Japan), and the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters), which represent the oldest records about Japanese history and heritage.

The study also tackles in detail the bureaucratic society in Japan and the beginning of legal system, which sought to rule the people through a central government. It displays the features of the Asian spiritual civilization and the role of Shintoism, which is more of political and economic philosophy than a religion. It also includes many other aspects of Japanese culture and heritage.