Ishimoda Sho
Encyclopedia
in Sapporo the capital of Hokkaidō
was a Japanese
historian
, specializing in ancient Japanese history, with a particular interest in the nature of the structural transition from the ancient to the medieval period. As an orthodox materialist, he was a lifetime member of the Communist Party
, and influential Marxist scholar in the analyses on Japanese history conducted by members of the post-war Rekiken group. In the 1950s, after the success of the communist revolution in China
in 1949, he espoused that model as the Asian alternative to Westernization, which had failed in Japan.
, where his father was mayor. He enrolled in the faculty of philosophy
at Tokyo Imperial University, but switched to Japanese history. On graduation he became a journalist for the Asahi Shinbun, then professor at Hosei University
. In 1973 he was diagnosed as suffering from Parkinson's disease
.
Recently Ishimoda's historical materialism has come in for criticism. However it cannot be denied that in shaking up the postwar world of Japanese historical studies, which at the time was caught up in the chaos and stagnation caused by the collapse of an historicism centered on Japan's Imperial institution, he prompted and quickened the reconstruction of that discipline.
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
was a Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, specializing in ancient Japanese history, with a particular interest in the nature of the structural transition from the ancient to the medieval period. As an orthodox materialist, he was a lifetime member of the Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
, and influential Marxist scholar in the analyses on Japanese history conducted by members of the post-war Rekiken group. In the 1950s, after the success of the communist revolution in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1949, he espoused that model as the Asian alternative to Westernization, which had failed in Japan.
Life
Born in his mother's family house in Hokkaidō, Ishimoda was raised in what is now Ishinomaki city, Miyagi PrefectureMiyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
, where his father was mayor. He enrolled in the faculty of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Tokyo Imperial University, but switched to Japanese history. On graduation he became a journalist for the Asahi Shinbun, then professor at Hosei University
Hosei University
is a private university based in Tokyo, Japan.The university originated in a school of law, Tōkyō Hōgakusha , established in 1880, and the following year renamed Tōkyō Hōgakkō . This was from 1883 headed by Dr. Gustave Emile Boissonade, and was heavily influenced by the French legal tradition...
. In 1973 he was diagnosed as suffering from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
.
Works
His first major work "The formation of the medieval world" was written before the war. but the manuscript was destroyed when his house went up in flames during a wartime incendiary bombing raid over Tokyo. A legend often mentioned by prominent academics to their students has it that, soon after war's end, he returned to what remained of his house, shut himself in for a summer and rewrote the whole work. According to the afterword by Ishii Susumu appended to a popular reprint of this work however, he secluded himself in a room of his home in October 1944, and, with the curtains drawn, wrote out the whole 700 page manuscript within just one month.Recently Ishimoda's historical materialism has come in for criticism. However it cannot be denied that in shaking up the postwar world of Japanese historical studies, which at the time was caught up in the chaos and stagnation caused by the collapse of an historicism centered on Japan's Imperial institution, he prompted and quickened the reconstruction of that discipline.