However, there was a strong movement to reject kangaku, as those who studied kokugaku (the study of Japanese classical literature) and Shinto such as Norinaga MOTOORI claimed that it was kangaku which was corrupting the Japanese spirit, which had been cultivated since ancient times, and the name 'kokugaku' fell into disuse and became separated from kangaku.
ところが本居宣長など国学や神道を研究する人々は漢学（からまなび）こそ古来日本以来の精神を毒しているとこれを排する動きが強まり、「皇漢学」という呼び名も次第に廃れて国学と漢学は分離されるようになった。