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Explore Past and Today for Innovation, Not for
Fame or Gain

By Wang Xiaolin

Professor Inahata聽Koichiro, a Japanese sinologist at Waseda University, has been active in China
and Japan鈥檚 academic communities since 1980s. In recent years, professor Inahata聽Koichiro put forth
effort to dig original materials about sinology in the Edo period, making significant contributions to the
compilation of the Japan part of the Confucian Canon, also known as the Ruzang. Meanwhile, professor
Inahata聽Koichiro also spares no effort to introduce the latest results of China Studies to Japan鈥檚 scholars.

Among so many contemporary 鈻?Inahata Koichiro interested in China Studies?
sinologists in Japan, professor Ina-
hata Koichiro features a unique style and China, 30-year survey of Lu Professor Inahata聽Koichiro (here-
of doing studies and distinctive con- Dongshan鈥揳 sinologist in Japan鈥檚 inafter referred to as 鈥淚nahata鈥?:
tributions. Fluent Chinese, broad Edo period, and efforts to push The generation of Japanese of my
views, a wealth of knowledge, and ahead with the compilation of the age started learning Japanese classic
sufficient energy are the impression Japan part of the Confucian Canon works and Chinese classic works
professor Inahata Koichiro left after highlighted his comprehensive at- from high school. It is because Chi-
the interview. It is difficult to describe tention to the Chinese culture. nese classic works had profound
the China Studies researched by pro- influence on Japan鈥檚 ancient culture.
fessor Inahata Koichiro with a specific Studies on ancient China鈥揼etting Without knowledge about Chinese
and confined academic concept. That insights to contemporary age classic works, we could not learn the
is why he described his research scope with studies on ancient times ancient culture of Japan. I started
as 鈥渟tudies on ancient China鈥? learning Chinese at college and then
Wang Xiaolin (hereinafter referred became interested in every aspect of
Nevertheless, if we search informa- to as 鈥淲ang鈥?: When did you get China.
tion related to professor Inahata Koi-
chiro at Japan鈥檚 major libraries and Wang: We know that you call your
on Internet, we will find his studies studies as 鈥渟tudies on ancient Chi-
cover fields related to studies on na鈥? Could you please give a brief
ancient China, including The Songs introduction to its connotation?
of Chu , bronze ware, bamboo slips
of Han Dynasty and archaeological Inahata: I studied China鈥檚 The
excavation. In addition, he has ex- Book of Songs and The Songs of
tended his studies to contemporary Chu when I was young. However, I
Chinese culture and literature. His thought it was difficult to find out
collation of materials about Mei the true situation of ancient China
Lanfang鈥檚 art history in recent years, only with explanations and inter-
research on the cultural communi- pretation of this kind of literatures.
cation between Japanese sculptor When there was an opportunity