因中日歷史發展及傳統不同，中國正統論必須經大幅修訂才能應用於德川日本。天命論被改造，去掉易姓革命，僅談天命將治權委托有德有能者，王權仍由天皇掌管。正名論改為承認政治現實，藉此提升幕府及將軍的權威。日人亦建立一些日式正統論，如神器論、大勢論、尊王論及封建論等。這些日式正統論為中國所無，反映德川體制下有足夠的思想空間容許史家作出創意的表達及中國正統論不能直接應用於日本。德川史學對正統論重新定義，以合理化幕府與皇室的微妙關係、神道的政治性及幕藩制等政治現實。本研究以德川代表史書為主要參考，以南北朝正統論及德川幕府的正統性為切入點，透過德川史學分析德川日人如何將中國正統論在地化。此研究有助加深我們了解中國史觀與日本現實如何結合及日本史家如何創意地改造中國觀念。

Due to different historical developments and political traditions in China and Japan, Chinese concepts of legitimacy could not be applied in Tokugawa Japan without major modifications. Tokugawa historians demonstrated a high level of flexibility and creativity in their discussion of political legitimacy. Some Chinese concepts were reinterpreted to fit into the Tokugawa system. For instance, the mandate of heaven was used primarily to discuss the right to govern and denied the Chinese-style revolution and dynastic change. Rectification of names became a means to justify the authority of the shogun. Perhaps more significantly, Tokugawa historians created their own concepts of legitimacy, such as the theories of imperial regalia, reverence for the emperor, historical trends, and feudalism. These Japanese interpretations of legitimacy were manufactured in Japan and could not be found in China. Using major Tokugawa historical writings as the main references and highlighting the legitimacy of the Southern- Northern Courts and the legitimacy of the Edo bakufu, this study examines the making of Japannized concepts of legitimacy in Tokugawa historiography. It sheds light on understanding how Tokugawa historians creatively modified and appropriated Chinese historical ideas and terms to accommodate Japanese tradition and the Tokugawa political system.