| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KASAYA Kazuhiko International Research Center for Japanese Studies; Research Department; Professor, 研究部, 教授 (90124198)
SONODA Hidehiro International Research Center for Japanese Studies; Research Department; Professor, 研究部, 教授 (50027562)
KIMURA Hiroshi International Research Center for Japanese Studies; Research Department; Professor, 研究部, 教授 (80001767)
SIRAHATA Yozaburo International Research Center for Japanese Studies; Research Department; Professor, 研究部, 教授 (10135543)
SUZUKI Sadami International Research Center for Japanese Studies; Research Department; Professor, 研究部, 教授 (60179207)
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| Research Abstract |
In order to carry out this research project we established the following three sub-themes and divided responsibilities among the researchers:
(l) Comparison of the characteristics of Japanese and European civilizations and cultures, given that there has been cultural exchange between Japan and Europe and that through this exchange there has been give-and-take: "The Bases of 'Misunderstanding and Bias'"
(2) Specific aspects of exchange of civilizations and cultures between Japan and Europe: "The Crucible of 'Misunderstanding and Bias'"
(3) The international significance of Japan in the context of contemporary exchanges of civilization and culture: "From 'Misunderstanding and Bias' to 'Understanding as a Model'"
Generally self cognition and understanding of others begin with comparisons of self and other that inevitably arise on occasions when one has contact with others. In instances such as Japan experienced, when the contact is between two completely contrasting civilizations and cultures
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, "misunderstanding and bias" become complexly entangled in both dimensions of self-cognition and understanding of others, and they affect each other. The questions "what is the self" and "what pertains to the self" are pursued only through the intermediation of an understanding of the other (for example, Europe) that is fraught with "misunderstanding and bias." Moreover, that understanding of the other is conditioned by understanding of still another (for example, China).
Our sub theme (2) was devised to probe deeply in order to clarify the triangular relationships among Japan, China, and Europe. There are many issues that need to be considered, but we chose, for the present, to take up understandings of "nature" and understandings of gender.
Precise understanding of those things that are particular or peculiar to the self can only be gained on the premises of an analysis of the "misunderstanding and bias" that is latent in this kind of self cognition. And conversely this precise comprehension makes possible a grasp of the real image of "exchange" (which of course is accompanied by "misunderstanding and bias"). Sub theme (l) was intended exactly to compare things that are particular to oneself, or one civilization or culture. This year we mark the 400th anniversary of relations between Japan and the Netherlands. In awareness of that, we planned to compare things that were particular to each country, rather than to go over the history of Japanese-Dutch exchange. This is because we believe the ground can be cleared for the next century of relations between Japan and the Netherlands only when we have carefully worked our way through past misunderstandings and biases, and have exposed to view those things that belong particularly to each country.
Sub theme (3) was intended to inquire into the global significance of the "Japanese model," building on the basis of the precise understanding of those things that are particular to Japan that we obtained in the course of this research. Less
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