伏羲的傳說故事很早已傳入日本，相關討論散見歷代文獻。伏義在日本文化史中被視作施政典範及易學始祖，受到文人雅士的推崇。隨著儒學在德川時代（1603-1868）的興起，有關伏羲的討論亦相應增加。本文以原始文獻為基礎，探討伏羲在德川思想史的角色，特別關注不同學派的日本學者如何借用伏羲來闡明自己的主張。伏羲對德川宗教及文化的影響有限。第一，伏羲在日本沒有成為民間信仰，沒有出現相關寺廟及祭祀，跟日本本土宗教的互動不多。第二，伏羲沒有對日本文藝創作帶來明顯的影響。除了少量漢詩及畫像外，伏羲的故事並無出現在浮世繪、淨琉璃、歌舞伎、小說、隨筆及雕刻等文藝作品中。然而伏羲在德川思想史卻有其值得注意的角色。德川學者對伏羲絕不陌生，這跟儒學的興起關係密切。儒者歌頌其對儒學及易學的貢獻。日本朱子學、古學、陽明學及石田心學的著作均引用伏羲以表達自家的儒學觀點，其中以道統論最具意義。此外，國學、神道、佛教、兵學等其它學派亦會從自身的角度討論伏羲。伏羲不但是個文化象徵，亦成為借題發揮的論述題材。

The legend of Fu Xi spread into Japan in ancient time, it has been recorded in various Japanese sources, commonly regarded as a political model or the creator of the Yijing. Following the rise of Confucianism and Chinese studies in the Tokugawa period (1603-1868), Fu Xi was mentioned more frequently in the writings of Tokugawa intellectuals. Based on primary sources, this paper examines the role of Fu Xi in Tokugawa thought, highlighting the ways that Tokugawa scholars used Fu Xi to expound their own views. Fu Xi had a lesser impact on the religion and culture in Tokugawa period, because of it would not be regarded as folk religion and no temples were build for Fu Xi. The legend of Fu Xi had little interaction with Japanese indigenous religions. It was not an important source of inspiration for Tokugawa art and culture. Fu Xi was not featured in Tokugawa drama and literature. Rather Fu Xi played a more significant role in Tokugawa thought. Japanese confucians praised his contribution to the transmission of the Way (daotong) and Yijing scholarship. Scholars of the Zhuxi school, kogaku, Wang Yangming school and Sekimon-shingaku used Fu Xi to support their own ideas through the discourse of daotong. Other schools of thought and theology such as kokugaku, Shinto, Buddhism and military strategy also discussed Fu Xi from their own perspectives. Fu Xi was not only a cultural symbol, but also a building block for Tokugawa intellectuals to construct their own system of thought.