Computerization of Premodern Japanese Sources and the Historiographical Institute

ISHIGAMI Eiichi
(Former Director of the Tôkyô University Historiographical Institute)

Historiographical Institute, The University of TokyoThe Historiographical Institute at the University of Tokyo has set itself the task of creating a comprehensive computerized database for research in documents of premodern Japanese history (from the ancient period to the Meiji Restoration). This is in accordance with the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s principle plan for establishing historical research that is based on a database of sources. The project is called “Research on the Structure and Computerization of Sources for Premodern Japanese History (Japan Memory Project: JMP), 2000-04.”

1. The Historiographical Institute was established in 1869 at the same time as the formation of the modern Japanese state. It developed from a project of collecting records into a research institute for compiling and editing collections of premodern historical documents. The institute was temporarily closed down between 1885 and 1887 due to a conflict with the Japanese government. It was re-established on condition that it remains politically neutral and that it conducts the editing and compilation of document collections only after substantial and exhaustive research. Research and examination of historical records in Japan and abroad since 1901, has resulted in the Institute’s publication of fundamental premodern document collections such as the chronological collection Dai nihon shiryo, among others. Initially, the goal in creating document collections specializing in premodern Japan was to create a national history from the ancient period to the Meiji Restoration. However, this editorial project had to be in the context of building the modern Japanese state in order to make the document collection relevant to Japan’s national history. Two important courses of action were then taken to overcome constraints.

The first course of action was to place emphasis on matters of foreign relations and to include foreign countries in the search for any existing documents. It is impossible to talk about Japanese history between the sixteenth- and nineteenth centuries--Christian missions, the invasions to Korea (1592-98) and Ryukyu islands (1609), relations with Portugal, Holland and England, the Japanese embassies to Rome (1582-90 and 1613-20), Hirado and Nagasaki trade, closed country (sakoku) and open country (kaikoku), and the Meiji Restoration-- while ignoring its relations with Korea, China, Ryukyu Islands, Europe, Russia, and the US.

The second course of action was to provide trustworthy and reliable documents that “tell the facts.” As such, arrangement of collected documents and the information database had to include a searchable computerized source. Only this would provide reliable support for substantial and objective examination of historical documents for the purpose of re-evaluating history. In order to collect records relating to Japan in the US and in various European countries, especially after 1954, a center for editing documents on microfilms was established with the support of the International Association of Academics and UNESCO. Furthermore, the release of documents in Russia and various East Asian countries in recent years has prompted collection and examination of documents.

2. Since the 1960s and the creation of such collections, an enormous volume of documents has been made available to the academic world and the general public. Creating an environment in which anybody may use the collections has been an important undertaking. Then, since the mid-1980s, presentation and usage of computerized resources through the creation of a database of electronic documents and document collections has become a new research project.

The task of the JMP is currently in progress. Its work focuses on forming a reliable computerized database of premodern historical documents. Moreover, the JMP advocates international cooperation in researching premodern Japanese history, aiming at creating an environment for the usage of these documents by the international community.

In my presentation I shall introduce the JMP, and provide an outline of the computerized history database (http://www.hi.u-tokyo.ac.jp) and its guiding principles.