In 1879, Meiji Emperor criticized the Enlightenment and promulgated "Kyogaku Taishi (The Imperial Will Education)", which was actually written by MOTODA, that public education should be based on Confucianism laying stress on the virtue of humanity, justice, loyalty and filial piety.
1879年に明治天皇が啓蒙主義を批判して仁義忠孝を中心とした儒教主義を公教育の中心とすべきとする教学聖旨を公布したが、その実際の執筆者が元田であった。