E. V. Kremnyov, V. V. Ananiev. Prerequisites for the Development of Regional Studies in Japan within the Framework of Japanese Traditional Science

UDК 001.891(520)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.111.028.202002.279-302

Introduction. The variety of elements of the field of regional studies in Japan makes it possible to state that the sources of regional studies are heterogeneous not only in content, but also in their relation to different historical periods. The objective of the study is to analyze the processes of development of proto-regional knowledge in Japan from ancient times until the middle of the 19th century

Materials and Methods. Japanese works on history and geography, as well as works by Russian researchers in the considered fields were used as the materials of the study. Particular attention was paid to historical and geographical texts; other sources (religious texts, poetic texts, etc.) were also considered. The basic methods employed were those of systemic, comparative, conceptual and terminological analysis.

Results. The article discusses the stages of development of proto-regional knowledge in Japan in the framework of traditional science. Based on the analysis of works created before the middle of the 19th century, the authors conclude that the basic factor in the formation and development of knowledge about regions was the opposition “We vs. Others,” characteristic of Japanese ethnoculture, and this knowledge itself is largely Japanocentric. The article reveals the role of several schools of traditional science: kokugaku (school of national sciences), rangaku / yogaku (Dutch / European studies) and kangaku (school of Chinese sciences), as well as the role of their cultural and ideological confrontation in stimulating the development of proto-regional knowledge.

Discussion and Conclusion. The article presents the results of the initial stage of a comprehensive study, which will examine the history of the development of Japanese regional knowledge and the methodology of regional research in Japan. The results of the work may be useful to researchers and specialists in the field of history of regional development of various countries and regions.

Keywords: science about regions, regional studies in Japan, regional studies, regional science, Japanese traditional science, Regionology, transdisciplinary Regionology, kokugaku, rangaku / yogaku, kangaku

Funding. The study was carried out with the financial support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research as part of the scientific project No. 19-011-00040 “History and Methodology of the Asia-Pacific Regional Studies in the Context of Modern Transdisciplinary Regionology.”

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Submitted 15.01.2020; accepted for publication 21.02.2020; published online 30.06.2020.

About the authors:

Evgeny V. Kremnyov, Head of Department, Department of Oriental and Regional Studies, Irkutsk State University (1 Karl Marx St., Irkutsk 664003, Russia), Ph. D. (Sociology), Associate Professor, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5255-3772, kremnyov2005@mail.ru

Vladimir V. Ananiev, Coordinator for International Relations, Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange (3/F, Rifare Bldg., 1-5-3, Hon-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0853, Japan), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5033-1073, v_ananiev@hotmail.com

Contribution of the authors:

Evgeny V. Kremnyov – putting forward the basic idea of the study; substantiation of the theoretical and methodological foundations of the study; data collection and processing; critical analysis; drawing conclusions.

Vladimir V. Ananiev – development of theoretical and methodological foundations of the study; search for analytical materials; analysis of factual material; drawing conclusions; writing the text of the article.

For citation:

Kremnyov E.V., Ananiev V.V. Prerequisites for the Development of Regional Studies in Japan within the Framework of Japanese Traditional Science. Regionology = Russian Journal of Regional Studies. 2020; 28(2):279-302. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.111.028.202002.279-302

The authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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