In the Humane Studies division, the programs of literature and philosophy of East Asian and Western culture are diveded into eleven specialization.
| Division | Programs | Specializations |
|---|---|---|
| Humane Studies [Staff] |
Japanese Culture | Japanese Literature |
| History of Japanese Thought | ||
| Sinology | Chinese Language and Literature | |
| Chinese Philosophy | ||
| Indian Culture | Indology and History of Indian Buddhism | |
| Western Culture | English Literature | |
| English Linguistics | ||
| German Literature | ||
| French Literature | ||
| Philosophy | Philosophy | |
| Ethics |
The Japanese Literature Department at Tohoku University promotes research in the extremely broad-ranging field of Japanese literature from a variety of viewpoints.
There are a number of research methods and perspectives in the study of Japanese Literature. In our department, we view literature as a form of art. While shedding light on the form, distinctive qualities and development of Japanese Literature, we also study these literary aspects from the standpoint of their relation to world literature. This has become the traditional method of study at the Tohoku University Japanese Literature Department. In this department, we are able to pursue research activities with great vigor due to the large number of graduate and foreign students.
With the great changes occurring in the world, research in Japanese literature also faces the need to find new approaches. It is hoped that new vistas will be opened up in the world of Japanese literature and that foreign students will build a foundation of solid knowledge and academic strength while applying flexible thinking and independent approaches to scholarly inquiry.
The study of history of Japanese thought aims at clarifying the way of thinking and values of the Japanese people, including the process of its formation, in comparison with that of other cultures.
Since its establishment in 1923, our department has played a leading part in this field of study. The doctoral program is the only one of its kind in this field at national universities. In the study of the history of Japanese thought, there is no restriction at all regarding the method and object of study. Students are free to choose any level of thought, from difficult philosophical theories to the sences in our daily life. They are also free to make any approach on any age from ancient to modern times.
History of Japanese thought has conducted continual overseas exchange of students and has accepted many foreign students. Students are expected to acquire, through sincere pursuit of such problems as "What is Japanese thought", "what is a human being" and "what is oneself", enough discernment and vision to contribute to the welfare of the world.
Japanese language ability will be required in order to study in our department.
Chinese literature has a long tradition of several thousand years from ancient times to the 20th century. Through that time, not only literature in literary Chinese such as poems, rhyme- proses, proses, plays, and novels was produced but also a lot of excellent works were written in colloquial Chinese; for example, "Sanguozhi Yanyi (三国志演義)", "Shuihuzhuan (水滸伝)", "Xiyouji (西遊記)", and "Hongloumeng (紅楼夢)". In the department of Chinese literature, teachers and students study such Chinese literary works, as wellas prosecute the studies of Chinese vocabulary, grammar and phonology. The specialities of the staff members in the department include Chinese phonology, verse literature of six dynasties, and poems of the Tang dynasty.
China has built up several of thought which originated from its own cultural tradition and has exerted multiple cultural influences on the East Asia, especially Korea and Japan. Chinese Philosophy is the study of the historical or modern meanings of Chinese thought in terms of intellectual or philosophical history. Our department has produced systematic studies of the thoughts of the Pre-Qin Hundred Schools, the history of thought in the Qin Han Period, and Buddhism, Taoism and the thought of the literati in the Six Dynasties and Sui Tang Period.Currently, we are attempting to conduct a comprehensive study of the thought of the literati in traditional China from the pre-Christian era to the 19th century, chiefly from the viewpoint of mutual relations among the three teachings as Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.
Of course, since Chinese Philosophy takes Chinese thought in all fields as an object of study, students may determine their themes of study independently, and we prepare them fully for their studies. Needless to say, students should be required to cultivate their own insights into both classical and modern Chinese books. In addition, they are advised to learn the Japanese way of reading Chinese classics.
The culture of the Indian sub-continent, whose history can be traced for almost four thousand years back in time, displays not only a careful preservation of its diversity and traditions, but also a wide proliferation throughout Asia, with its influence reaching as far as Japan.
Our main research fields are Indological and Buddhist Studies. The former includes Indian Philosophy and Religion and the latter Tibetology and Central Asian Studies.
On a temporal plane, the main research fields are Ancient and Medieval Indian Culture, but these fields also study modern-day problems.The research itself is conducted through careful study of original texts in Sanskrit, Pali and Tibetan, and other materials of philological value. For this reason, reading comprehension of Japanese is regarded as a must.
In our department all the authors, works, ideas and traditions covering the whole range of English literary history from Anglo-Saxon times through the twentieth century are considered valid subjects of study. Naturally enough, the focus of teaching and research has been on modern English literature, including Shakespeare, Milton, Samuel Johnson, the Romantics,Dickens, D. H. Lawrence, T. S. Eliot and others. Literature has increasingly been regarded as part of the larger cultural totality which has resulted in a recent shift of interest towards feminism, colonialism and cultural studies. The traditional methodology of literary studies here has been historically-oriented and careful reading of primary sources is emphasized. However, students are encouraged to utilize a wide variety of approaches to literature.Although several courses taught in English are offered, the greater part of teaching in our department is carried out in Japanese. Students are required to have a good command of Japanese as well as English to participate actively in class work.
English Linguistics is the scientific study of English as a natural human language. Language is one of the most fundamental human instincts. It is an extraordinarily complex system that all of us master as young children without special teaching, and that gives us the ability to communicate with each other, tell stories, and express our deepest feelings. English linguistics utilizes the methodology of modern linguistics, especially, generative grammar.Generative grammar is concerned with understanding the nature of language and our knowledge of it, how we acquire it, and how that knowledge is put to use. To research these topics, our department offers a program of study concerning syntax, semantics (especially,formal semantics and lexical semantics), and comparative syntax within the framework of generative grammar. Our department will focus on the comparative study of English and other languages (Japanese, among others) from both descriptive and theoretical viewpoints in the twenty-first century. Foreign students who want to join us are required to have a fairly good command of English as well as Japanese.
Germany has an important place in European history and its importance has increased since the reunion of West and East Germany. "Germanistik" (German Studies) is a discipline, whose first purpose is to research the German language and literature, but various phenomena of the German culture are also its research subjects. It covers the long period from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The border between philosophy and literature is itself research subject as well. Japanese culture has been greatly influenced by German culture, so that the import of the German culture was formerly one of the most important aims of "Germanistik" in Japan.Now we conduct research that contributes to the development of an international "Germanistik". It goes without saying that there are many cultural differences between Germany and Japan. Therefore, our research is not only of the German culture, but we must always compare it with Japanese culture. Through this comparison, we are trying to gain our own perspective as "Germanists" in Japan.
Most Japanese students learn German at the university for the first time. Except for a lessons by a native German teacher, all classes are given in Japanese so that not only a good command of German but also that of Japanese is desirable.
Showing universal insight into human nature by means of clear logic, French literature has been giving useful and intelligent perspectives to Japan, an island nation, since the Meiji era.At the present time, the importance of studying the language and literature of France lies not only in the fad that the relation between France and Japan have become closer through internationalization but also because we come to know a new world by creating a "conceptual circuit" different from our mother tongue. If it is possible for you to study French literature in Japan, you will enter a "battlefield " of three languages: Japanese, French and your tongue.Because in our department, there are Japanese teachers and students, a French teacher, and you.
Philosophy is, etymologically speaking, a love of knowledge, or wisdom. This intellectual activity is said to be a thorough investigation into the principles of things or a radical reconsideration of things, motivated by a sense of wonder we sometimes have while looking at the world.
Our department has been involved in this activity based on Western philosophical tradition.That is, we have investigated, on one hand, the history of Western philosophy, analysing and interpreting classical texts, and trying to discuss the philosophical problems connected with them. Historical investigation itself should be a philosophical activity. We have investigated, on the other hand, contemporary philosophical problems, inspecting and analysing theories on various themes, and trying to find better solutions or discovering more fundamental problems.
Our department covers the following fields: ancient and medieval philosophy, modern and contemporary philosophy, philosophy of science, and applied ethics. Lectures and discussions are conducted mainly in Japanese, while using texts in English, German, French,Latin, or ancient Greek according to the chosen subject.
In addition, Japanese thinkers under the influence of Western philosophical tradition can be the subject as well in our department. Foreigners are welcome to study in our department. To be fair, Japanese-language speaking ability will be required in addition to general requirements for studying philosophy.
Through systematic and historical studies of European philosophy, mainly of German and French ethics, we study the human beings, especially with respect to the liberty of the individual, the morality of social conduct, and the realization of value in historical civilizations.
Japanese-language speaking ability will be required in order to study effectively in our department.
