Naito Torajiro
Encyclopedia
Naitō Torajirō commonly known as Naitō Konan (内藤 湖南), was a Japan
ese historian and Sinologist
. He was the founder of the Kyoto School of historiography
, and along with Shiratori Kurakichi (the founder of the Tokyo School), was one of the leading Japanese historians of East Asia in the early twentieth century. His most well-known book is called Nara.
He was born in what is today Akita Prefecture
. He distinguished himself as a journalist. In 1907 he found Manwen Laodang
in Mukden. As an authority of Chinese history, he was invited to Kyoto Imperial University by Kano Kokichi in 1907 and got involved in the foundation of the Department of Oriental History.
Naitō's most influential contribution to historiography was the recognition and analysis of the Tang-Song transition as an important watershed. He argued that the social, political, demographic and economic changes that occurred between the mid-Tang Dynasty
and early Song Dynasty
represented the transition between the medieval (chūsei) and early modern (kinsei) periods of Chinese history.
In Japanese history, Naitō argued that Yamataikoku
was located in Kyūshū
rather than in Kinki.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese historian and Sinologist
Sinology
Sinology in general use is the study of China and things related to China, but, especially in the American academic context, refers more strictly to the study of classical language and literature, and the philological approach...
. He was the founder of the Kyoto School of historiography
Historiography
Historiography refers either to the study of the history and methodology of history as a discipline, or to a body of historical work on a specialized topic...
, and along with Shiratori Kurakichi (the founder of the Tokyo School), was one of the leading Japanese historians of East Asia in the early twentieth century. His most well-known book is called Nara.
He was born in what is today Akita Prefecture
Akita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Akita.- History :The area of Akita has been created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu....
. He distinguished himself as a journalist. In 1907 he found Manwen Laodang
Manwen Laodang
Manwen Laodang is a set of Manchu official documents of the Qing Dynasty, compiled during the late Qianlong period based on Jiu Manzhou Dang....
in Mukden. As an authority of Chinese history, he was invited to Kyoto Imperial University by Kano Kokichi in 1907 and got involved in the foundation of the Department of Oriental History.
Naitō's most influential contribution to historiography was the recognition and analysis of the Tang-Song transition as an important watershed. He argued that the social, political, demographic and economic changes that occurred between the mid-Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
and early Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
represented the transition between the medieval (chūsei) and early modern (kinsei) periods of Chinese history.
In Japanese history, Naitō argued that Yamataikoku
Yamataikoku
or is the Sino-Japanese name of an ancient country in Wa during the late Yayoi period . The Chinese history Sanguo Zhi first recorded Yemetaiguo or Yemayiguo as the domain of shaman Queen Himiko...
was located in Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
rather than in Kinki.