Abstract: Yili (righteousness) and Renqing (human affection) are important norms common to East Asian societies. However,between Chinese and Japanese society,there are subtle differences in the meaning and relationship of Yili and Renqing. Ruth Benedict's The Chrysanthemum and the Sword is the best known account on the conflict between Yili and Renqing in Japanese society. However,Benedict's work has long been surpassed by Japanese scholars,who have put forwarded theories of entanglement between Yili and Renqing,and the conflict among different Yili. This study offers a more in-depth look of the logics behind the two concepts by a careful analysis of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Love Suicides at Amijima". The drama,in three volumes,tells a tale of the interaction and fusion of two human hearts that eventually sublime and transcend Yili and Renqing,the true path of the relationship between Yili and Renqing. This study also brings in a brief discussion of the famous early modern Chinese drama "Du Shiniang's Anger and Treasure Box" for comparison. It reveals that Chinese society focuses more on the "rationality"aspect of "Qingli", while in Japan,the emotional aspect is more emphasized. These two different priorities have an important impact on the development of the two societies.

Key words: Yili, Renqing, drama, Japanese society, Chikamatsu Monzaemon