麻豆视频

It goes without saying that Japan’s traditional culture and civilization, like those of its East Asian peers, flourished under the influence of China. Although Western civilization introduced lifestyles and ways of thinking in the late nineteenth century, China’s past influence remains deeply rooted in Japanese culture.
 
In this encyclopedia, we term this phenomenon as “Sinic (漢, Ch. han, Jp. kan) culture.” The first half covers various aspects of Chinese culture, while the second examines their influence on Japan. Both are categorized by genre, persons involved, or work titles Each entry is penned by an expert in the relevant field. Rather than offering brief overviews, each entry is accompanied by a detailed commentary, whose length varies according to its significance, as determined by the editor. For this reason, we call this book an “encyclopedia.”

The physical copy, comprising two B5 volumes totaling 952 pages, truly lives up to its title. Holding the book is no light task, and opening it requires ample space. Despite its size, we sought to ensure that each article resonates with readers and enhance their understanding with each reading.
 
Compiling and publishing encyclopedias of this scope typically demands considerable time and effort, and ours is no exception. More than two decades have passed since its conception. Indeed, many authors who obeyed deadlines have had to wait a long time. The editors carefully reviewed every entry word by word, consulting with authors on details and minimizing contradictions and redundancies among entries.
 
While most authors specialize in the literature, thought, or history of either China or Japan, scholars from different disciplines, such as the arts and entertainment, add to its diversity. I dare say this encyclopedia is both comprehensive and groundbreaking, fulfilling the goal of academic inclusivity. This inclusivity is also evident in the wide range of authors' ages: from meisters already internationally renowned at the time of commission (some regrettably, passed away before seeing this book in print) to graduate students who have since become leading researchers. Using the authors' names as clues to explore their other works is certainly a great way to make the most of this book.
 
Because the entries were written by scholars engaged in cutting-edge research, each reflects the state of its field at the time of publication. Although it may seem counterintuitive, humanities evolve as rapidly as other disciplines. Consequently, many descriptions in this encyclopedia differ from those found in high school textbooks. Not only will those studying Chinese and Japanese cultures benefit from this encyclopedia, but general readers will also find their knowledge enriched. At the same time, many accounts in this book will likely be surpassed by future research. Inspired by this encyclopedia, readers may delve deeper into subjects, embark on their own research, and ultimately produce discoveries and insights that outdo those contained here.
 

(Written by KOJIMA Tsuyoshi, Professor, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology / 2024)