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The character of nations was a prominent topic in 18th century intellectual debate, searching for criteria that could explain the great diversity of customs, institutions, religions and cultures of the world's peoples. Within the framework of the opposition between Europe and Asia – newly theorised by Montesquieu -, Japan constitutes a particularly interesting case, since a traditional representation that emphasised the radical otherness of the Japanese character was flanked by others that instead highlighted similarities and analogies, opening up suggestive comparative perspectives. The essay highlights some moments of this debate, by focusing on a few examples from the French culture of the Age of Enlightenment.

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