About the Program
Research Scope and Topics
This study focuses on the East Asian classical world (i.e. the Sinosphere) centered around the reading and writing of Sinitic texts, and reexamines the practice of commentary as a shared tradition within the region. In doing so, we aim to explore new possibilities of East Asian classical studies in the age of the digital humanities, with hopes of innovating the field.
In carrying this out, we seek to expand the methods of East Asian classical studies through interdisciplinary research exchanges and the nurturing of the next generation. We will emphasize the organic interconnection between the following three strategies in constructing a system of scholarly reproduction: 1) elaborating the history of commentaries in the East Asian classical world and conducting studies on individual commentaries; 2) creating new commentaries on classical texts for publication; and 3) providing feedback at a basic pedagogical level, through the preparation of presentation materials for classrooms and seminars.
This program is a continuation of “Development of the Next Generation of East Asian Classical Studies through International Collaboration: From the Perspective of the Frontier of the Realm of Chinese Characters” (KAKENHI, 2019-2023, principal investigator: Saitō Mareshi) as well as “The Creation of a Next generation Hub for East Asian Classical Studies: Accelerating Research and Education through International Collaboration,” (KAKENHI, 2015-2018, principal investigator: Saitō Mareshi) as well as “A Pragmatic and In-Depth Examination of East Asian Studies: Research and Education through International Collaboration” (KAKENHI, 2012-2014, principal investigator: Saitō Mareshi) research programs. Furthermore, the research and education concept of “East Asian Classical Studies” is based on an earlier research program titled, “The Construction of Ancient Literature as East Asian Classical Studies,” (KAKENHI, 2007-2010, principal investigator: Kōnoshi Takamitsu) and our research also inherits its philosophy and concept.
Database of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kaken)
Commentary for Thought: Towards the Innovation of East Asian Classical Studies
KAKENHI Grant Number: 24K00055
