Type of Research Fundamental Research
Research Title Inventorying and Analysis of Reports on Era Names with a Focus on Those Formerly Preserved by the Hirohashi Family
Head of the Research Team Prof. MIZUKAMI Masaharu, Faculty of Letters, Chuo University
Research Period FY2015-2017
Purpose For the families of Kidendo, changing era names was an important national event on which the continuation of their family lines depended, and this was no exception for the Hirohashi family which belonged to the Fujiwara Hokke Hino family line. The present study aims to organize the reports on era names that constituted an integral part of the collection formerly preserved by the Hirohashi family and explore new areas of research regarding the scholarship and politics of medieval and modern Japan.
Results

Achievements from a three-year collaborative research project include definition of the value of the reports on era names in the Hirohashi family collection preserved at Rekihaku and creation of a platform for research involving a variety of areas in history, philosophy, language and culture using the materials related to era names. Specific achievements can be summarized in three parts as follows:

(i) Six research papers and two books were published. It is particularly important to note that Riben Hanxue Zhenxi Wenxian Jicheng, the part of Era Name, which is a photo replicate of nine different historical materials on era names and composed of five volumes, was published in January 2018. The 5,000-page series include bibliographical introduction commentary both in Japanese and Chinese produced by the research members.

(ii) The members of this project participated a total of 21 research meetings on the study field held, of which 13 took place at international conferences. 

(iii) Other academic activities include three programs held at Rekihaku, namely “The Era Names and the Imperial Court” Special Exhibition, the 106th Rekihaku Forum titled “Era Names and Japanese Culture,” and an international symposium titled “The name of era, a mirror on the thought and culture of East Asia.”