Collaborative Research
F.Basic Research on the Formation Process of the Literate Culture in the Ancient Period
| Type of Research | Scientific Research |
|---|---|
| Project Title | Research on Advanced Digitalization of Historical Materials |
| Research Title | F.Basic Research on the Formation Process of the Literate Culture in the Ancient Period |
| Head of the Research Team | HIRAKAWA Minami |
| Research Period | 2008 |
| Research Team |
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| Purpose | IThe National Museum of Japanese History has collected research results on individual materials of the ancient period, including wood strips, lacquer paper documents, pottery inscribed with ink, epigraphs, copper stamps, coins, etc. The purpose of this research is to follow the results of past research and integrate them. As a premise of this integrated research, however, the group is first required to discuss the propagation of literary culture in East Asian countries, along with a general look at literary culture in ancient Japan. |
2008
Progress
| The 1st Workshop July 13 (Sun), 2008 National Museum of Japanese History |
|---|
Questions and answers, discussion |
The 2nd Workshop September 6 (Sat), 2008 Shiga Prefectural Azuchi Castle Archaeological Museum |
Touring of exhibitions
Questions and answers, discussion |
| The 3rd Workshop March 7 (Sat), 2009 National Museum of Japanese History |
Questions and answers, discussion |
| Fieldwork March 29 (Sun), 2009 Shiga Prefectural Azuchi Castle Archaeological Museum |
Investigation of wood strips excavated from Nishigawara ruins |
Result
Though the members of the cooperative research team are from various fields of historical research, with focuses including Japan, China, and ancient Korea, they shared a basic understanding as a result of the summary reports by individual members. In addition to researchers in charge of respective activities, guest speakers and graduate students of universities participated in the workshops for the purpose of an active exchange of opinion.
The research results so far concerning soumarougoukans in China and Japan were reported by Sekio, while Abe added a detailed report on those used for tax payments. During the question–answer session, it was mentioned that those wooden strips used for name plates resemble those found in the Taga Castle ruins in Miyagi Prefecture. There was also a mention of the usage of Kankaku, such as "Bie" (two identical strips made by splitting a single strip.) It was also pointed out that soumaroumokkans being revealed at present are only some of those in existence; thus, the examination of the remaining wooden strips will be an important theme for future investigation.
Hashimoto introduced those wooden strips so far excavated in Korea and presented various viewpoints for research, while Lee indicated the usage of wood strips in the process of Silla's acceptance of "Rongo." The Rongo wood strips have been found in Japan, too, among them the ones excavated from Kannonji ruins in Tokushima Prefecture. The group agreed on the necessity of paying attention to the usage of wooden strips in the process of the acceptance of certain books as classical both in Korea and Japan. Hirakawa reported on some recent excavations of wooden strips. Like soumarou, a number of wooden strips have been excavated in Korea recently, both in the old Silla and Paekche regions. Accordingly, the group affirmed the future task of clarifying the genealogical relationship of these strips with those found in Japan.
Ichi and Ohashi reported on the Japanese wooden strips of the seventh century found in Nishigawara，Shiga Prefecture. The group also had an opportunity to visit the site for fieldwork. The period from the fifth to the seventh centuries exactly coincides with the period of the acceptance of literary culture in ancient Japan. It was mentioned that some of the wooden strips excavated from the Nishigawara ruins carry the same inscriptions as those seen on sixth century Silla monuments, such as "Monsakin." It was also pointed out that some inscriptions are specific to the seventh century and cannot be observed on the wooden strips of the eighth century and after. In addition, commonalities were found between these inscriptions and the Korean wood strips (epigraphs).
Through these examinations, the group saw a clear commonality among the wooden strips (bamboo strips) of China, Korea, and Japan, as well as several issues that need further investigation. The group also confirmed that these wooden strips share commonalities not only in terms of the content written on them but also in terms of their preparation methods, forms, and usage.
In this year's preliminary research, commonality of letter forms and ways of inscription of not only wooden strips but also epigraphs and pottery inscribed with ink became a focus. By taking these excavated materials and Shosoin documents as well into the scope of the research, the group believes that in the future it will be able to reveal the process of propagation of literary culture throughout East Asia in detail, and furthermore, the process of acceptance of that literary culture in ancient Japan.
