A study of multi-layered and compound shidafu network in Song society

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K01035
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03030:History of Asia and Africa-related
• Research Institution: Osaka Metropolitan University (2022-2023); Osaka City University (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: HIRATA SHIGEKI 大阪公立大学, 大学院文学研究科, 教授 (90228784)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 書信 / 交流 / 士大夫 / 公と私 / 読書共同体 / 集合心性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using the letters of Song dynasty elites as clues, this study examines their networks and communication and reveals the following. (1) The elites of the Song dynasty used different networks to communicate with each other at different levels of society, such as “central,” “road,” “state,” and “prefecture,” which existed above the base society based on blood and land ties. (2) In addition to direct exchanges, they also used letters as an important means of communication, with “Shu書” and “Qi啓” dominating in terms of quantity. (3) While the former was used both publicly and privately, the “Qi” was more like a ceremonial greeting and functioned as a lubricant for the elites. (4) From both of them, we can also read the so-called “collective spirit” common to the elites of the time.

Free Research Field

中国史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

中国社会はネットワーク型の社会として知られている。本研究は宋代という過去の時代ではあるが、士大夫というエリート階層が手紙を介してどのように交流し、ネットワークを構築していたかを考察している。本研究は、現代の中国社会を歴史的アプローチによって解き明かすうえで重要な情報を提供するのみならず、手紙をネットワークやコミュニケーションと結び付けた研究成果は稀少であり、新たな研究の地平を切り開くものでもある。