Recollection and Reflection: Volume One

Author: (Japanese) Takeuchi Shizuo
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-01-01
Features: This volume is divided into two parts, with the selected articles in each part not arranged by publication date but generally in the order of their content. The lower part includes articles where Takeuchi Shizuo reflects on his own life and research journey. The lower part is a review and summary of Japanese studies on China, particularly the development and lessons learned from the study of China after World War II. Reading these texts provides a basic understanding of Takeuchi Shizuo's personal experiences and academic achievements. In the upper part, articles such as "Speech upon Receiving the Third Asia Cultural Prize in Fukuoka," "The Red Guards in My Heart," and "My First Chinese Language Teacher" primarily recall the impressions of childhood on Chinese customs, culture, and social conditions. The vivid and authentic feelings expressed in these works became the foundation for Takeuchi Shizuo's later understanding of Chinese history and cultural traditions. Meanwhile, articles like "Falsified Nationalism Imposed on Children" and "A Journey to Hanaoka" expose and critique, through personal experiences, the aggression and harm inflicted by Japanese militarism on China. In the lower part, which summarizes the history and lessons of Japanese studies on China, there are both general overviews and analyses of the strengths and weaknesses of post-war Japanese research on China, based on critiques of specific works or scholars. The reflective articles selected in this volume serve as a necessary preamble and preparation for reading the other volumes of "Takeuchi Shizuo's Collected Works," which are organized by research topics. They will help readers understand the specific perspectives and content of Takeuchi Shizuo's research on China.