Oriental History Bibliographies (Subject Bibliography) Published in the Japanese Language

updated on July 27th, 2023
by Humanities Room

This webpage introduces search tools (subject bibliographies) chiefly in the Japanese language available in the Tokyo Main Library Humanities Room to find reference resources (books, journal articles, etc.) related to Oriental history.

To search for journal articles, please refer to Article Index of Periodicals in Japanese.

Numbers shown in brackets 【】 indicate the NDL call number for an item.

The [Range] field indicates the range of years during which the material of interest was cataloged and material format.

1. Searching Basic Literature

Mamoru Tonami, Mio Kishimoto, Masaaki Sugiyama, ed., "Chugoku rekishi kenkyu nyumon"(An introduction to Chinese history research) (Nagoya Daigaku Shuppankai　2006　【GE213-H5】)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] None
[Notes] A bibliography is included on pp.365-467.
Yukio Yamane, ed., "Chugokushi kenkyu nyumon" (An introduction to Chinese history research) vol.1, 2 (Enlarged and revised edition　Yamakawa Shuppansha　1991-1995)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] Index of historical annals
[Notes] While items published before 1982 feature in the selected bibliography, items have been consolidated and added as supplements at the back of each volume. Volume 1 includes items up to the year 1991, volume 2 up to the year 1994.
Chosenshi Kenkyukai, ed., "Chosenshi kenkyu nyumon" (An introduction to Korean history research) (Nagoya Daigaku Shuppankai　2011　【GE122-J19】)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] None
[Notes] Includes an appended 'Bibliography' (pp.335-457).
Yasushi Kosugi, Kayoko Hayashi, Yasushi Tonaga, ed., "Islamsekai kenkyu manual" (The world of Islam research manual) (Nagoya Daigaku Shuppankai　2008　【GE781-J8】)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] None
[Notes] Describes research history and historical sources, and presents literature
Tsukasa Mizushima, Hiroshi Kato, Toru Kubo, Ryuto Shimada, ed.,"Asiakeizaishi kenkyu nyumon" (An introduction to Asian economic history research) (Nagoya Daigaku Shuppankai　2015　【DC141-L20】)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] None
[Notes] Includes a 'Bibliography' (pp.263-354). The bibliography is presented by region (East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Western Asia and Central Asia), and in chronological order by historical period (antiquity, pre-modern, and modern eras).
Kenji Shimada [et al.], ed., "Asia rekishi kenkyu nyumon " (An introduction to Asian history research) vol.1-5 and a supplementary volume (Dohosha Shuppan　1983-1987　【GE33-6】)
Volume 1: China. Part 1
Volume 2: China. Part 2. Korea
Volume 3: China. Part 3
Volume 4: Central and Western Asia
Volume 5: South Asia, Southeast Asia, and World History and Asia
Supplement: General table of contents and general index
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] A general index (a book title index and a name (author) index) has been included in the supplement.
[Notes] Describes research history and historical sources, and presents bibliographies by region and in chronological order by historical period.
"Toyo shiryo shusei"(A introduction to Oriental history research) (Heibonsha　1985　【GE1-24】)
*A newly designed reprint edition of 1956 edition 【220.08-H418t】
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] Chinese classics index, Japanese name index, Chinese name index (*includes Korean names), Roman character name index
[Notes] Describes research history and historical sources from antiquity to modern history, and presents literature.

2. Searching Research Trends

Bibliographies and reviews of the research literature printed in history journals are useful for investigating newly published literature and research trends. Here are a few typical bibliographies.

"Shigaku zasshi" (Journal of historical science) (Shigakkai monthly)
*As for the NDL's holdings, the issues from 1889 to 1964 are on microfilm, 【YA-20】; issues from 1965 and after are available in paper form 【Z8-321】.

・'Shigaku bunken mokuroku: Toyoshi' (Historical science bibliography: Oriental history) (1960 (volume 69, number 6)-present annual the February (2), June (6), and October (10) issues)
[Range] 1960-present. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Books, research papers> Region and historical period> Author name in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] None
[Notes] Incorporates bibliographies that include Africa. While there is no cumulative addition, the years 1946-1950 have been compiled into the reference titled "Shigaku bunken mokuroku"(Historical science bibliography) 【UP54-E16】.
*The same as the "Meiji Taisho Showa zenki zasshi kiji sakuin shusei. Jinbun kagaku hen. Dai 36 kan" (Composite index of Japanese magazine and journal articles published from the Meiji to the early Showa periods. Humanities volume.Volume 36) provided in 3. Searching Comprehensively below.

・' XXXX nen no rekishi gakkai: kaiko to tenbo' (Historical science of the previous year: review and perspective) (1950 (volume 59, number 5)-present annual May (5) issue)
*For the year 1970, June (6) issue (volume 79, number 6) includes the content.
[Range] 1949-present. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] None
[Notes] Major literature are presented among the overview of research trends from the previous year. The ' 1948 nen no rekishi gakkai' (Historical science of 1948) was printed in volume 58, number 1 (1949) before it could be established as a special issue. Contents were reprinted in the form of the "Nihon rekishi gakkai no kaiko to tenbo"(Historical science in Japan: review and perspective) 【GA32-50】 described below from 1949 until 1985 once they had been resorted and reorganized by topics such as region and era, etc.

Shigakkaied., "Nihon Rekishi Gakkai no kaiko to tenbo" (Historical science in Japan: review and perspective) 25 volumes (Yamakawa Shuppansha　1987-1988　【GA32-50】)
Volume 1: Introduction and historical theory 1949-1985
Volume 12: China. Part 1. Yin-Han. 1949-1985
Volume 13: China. Part 2. The Three Kingdoms-Tang. 1950-1985
Volume 14: China. Part 3. The Five Dynasties-Qing. 1949-1985
Volume 15: China. Part 4. Modern. 1949-1985
Volume 16: Korea. 1949-1985
Volume 17: Central Asia. 1949-1985
Volume 18: South and Southeast Asia. 1949-1985
Volume 19: Western Asia and Africa. 1949-1985

3. Searching Comprehensively

"Meiji Taisho Showa zenki zasshi kiji sakuin shusei. Jinbun kagaku hen. Dai 36 kan"(Composite index of Japanese magazine and journal articles published from the Meiji to the early Showa periods. Humanities volume.Vol.36)(Koseisha　1997　【UP54-E16】)
[Range] 1946-1950. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] By era, theme, country, etc. as per the order of the respective book or journal
[index] Author name index
*Users can search with The Complete Database for Japanese Magazine and Periodicals from Meiji Era to the Present (Zassaku Plus) (subscription database at the NDL: in-library use only)
[Notes] This is a reproduction of Shigakkaied., "Shigaku bunken mokuroku" (Bibliography of historical science) (Yamakawa Shuppansha 1951) pp.1-219.
Since 1960, this has been succeeded by the "Shigaku bunken mokuroku" (Bibliography of historical science) introduced in 2. Searching Research Trends.
"Meiji Taisho Showa zenki zasshi kiji sakuin shusei. Jinbun kagaku hen. Dai 39 kan"(Composite index of Japanese magazine and journal articles published from the Meiji to the early Showa periods. Humanities volume.Vol.39) (Koseisha　1997　【UP54-E16】)
[Range] Early Meiji period-1935. Articles published in books and journals
[Order] Country/Region> Theme
[Index] Author name index for the entire humanities volume (Supplement 2)　
*Users can search with The Complete Database for Japanese Magazine and Periodicals from Meiji Era to the Present (Zassaku Plus) (subscription database at the NDL: in-library use only)
[Notes] Reproduction of "Toyoshi ronbun yomoku : hobun rekishigaku kankei shozasshi"(Compendium of Asian history research papers: miscellaneous Japanese language history journals) (Revised and enlarged edition　Otsuka Shigakkai　1936　【625-175ロ】) (National Diet Library Digital Collections).
"Toyoshi, seiyoshi tosho mokuroku" (Catalog of Asian history and Western history books) 2 vols. (Nichigai Associates　1999-2004　【G1-G5, G1-H4】)
[Range] 1991-2003. Books
[Order] World History: Theme> Book title in Japanese alphabetical order, Asian/Western history: Region> Theme> Book title in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] Author name index, title index, item index
[Notes] The research focus is from ancient history to modern history (until 1945). Contemporary history is included in "Gendaishi tosho mokuroku"(Catalog of contemporary history books) 5 vols. (Nichigai Associates　2000-2006).
"Toyoshi tosho mokuroku"(Catalog of Asian history books) (Nichigai Associates　1994　【GE1-E12】)
[Range] 1945-1990. Books
[Order] Geographic region> Theme> Publication date
[Index] Author name index, title index, item index
Hoseishi Gakkai, ed.,"Hoseishi bunken mokuroku" (Bibliography of Japanese legal history) vol.1, 2 and 3 (Sobunsha et al.　1983-1997　【A111-134】)
[Range] August 15, 1945-1989. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Theme> Author name or book title in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] Personal name index
[Notes] Users can search literature since 1980 with the Hoseishi Bunken Mokuroku (Bibliography of Japanese Legal History) (1980-) .
Keizaishi Bunken Kaidai Database (Economic History Bibliography Database) (Institute for Research in Economic History of Japan, Osaka University of Economics)
[Range] Books, articles published in journals
[Notes] Includes Western and Oriental history in addition to Japanese history. Annotated bibliographic database focused on economic and business history but covers a wide range of fields.

4. By Region

4-1. China/Korea

Yoshio Sanae, ed., "Kandai kenkyu bunken mokuroku. Hobunhen" (A bibliography of the Han Dynasty. Japanese language volume) (Hoyu Shoten　1979　【GE2-41】)
Hiroaki Toriya, Tora Yoshida et al., ed.,"Godaishi kenkyu bunken mokuroku"(Bibliography of the history of the Five Dynasties) (Rissho Daigaku Bungakubu Toyoshi Kenkyushitsu　1990　【GE2-E7】)
Yoshimi Nozawa, ed., "Gendaishi kenkyu bunken mokuroku . 1971-1988*"* (Yuan Dynasty historical research bibliography. 1971-1988) (Rissho Daigaku Toyoshi Kenkyushitsu　1991　【GE2-E15】)
Yukio Yamane, ed., "Mindaishi kenkyu bunken mokuroku" (Bibliography of Ming Dynasty research): 1993-2003 (Kyuko Shoin　2005　【GE2-J2】)
Yukio Yamane, ed., "Shinpen Mindaishi kenkyu bunken mokuroku" (New bibliography of Ming Dynasty research) (Yukio Yamane　1993　【GE2-G18】)
Kazuo Endo, ed., "Kittan (Ryo )shi kenkyu bunken mokuroku (1892-1999)" (Bibliography of Khitan (Liao) historical research (1892-1999)) (Kazuo Endo　2000　【GE2-G17】)
"Chugoku rekidai kotei bunken mokuroku"(Bibliography of successive Chinese emperors) (Kokusho Kankokai　1979　【GE2-44】)
[Range] 1868-1978 (Japanese literature), 1912-1978 (Chinese literature). Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Historical period> Ruler generation number
[Index] None. But an 'Author bibliography' is included.
[Note] Korean literature have been also included.
Masatoshi Ishii, Yasuhiro Kawagoe, ed., "Nicchu niccho kankei kenkyu bunken mokuroku"(Bibliography of Japan-China and Japan-Korea relations research) (Enlarged and revised edition　Kokusho Kankokai　1996　【GB1-G14】)
[Range] Meiji period-1991. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Author name in Japanese alphabetical order> Book (by publication year), research paper (by publication year)
[Index] Item index
[Notes] Includes literature covering antiquity to the mid-nineteenth century (before and after the Opium War, the close of the Edo period). Please note, however, that the record of Japan in the *"History of Wei"*and the ancient kingdom of the Yamatai are not included.

4-2. The History of Relations between the East and the West, etc.

"Tozai koshoshi bunken mokuroku" (Bibliography of studies of historical contact between East and West). 1(Silk Road　1979　【G1-4】)
*Hiroshi Umemura, ed., "Chuo Asia (Central Asia): 1886-1977" is included.
[Range] 1886-1977. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Author name in Japanese alphabetical order> Publication year
[Index] Indexed in order of the first Chinese character of the author's family name.
[Notes] Includes a few literature on Central Asian and Northern Asian history, as well as literature on inland transport between East and West and cultural exchange. The appendix includes 'Major works written by Japanese in Western languages'.
"Tozai koshoshi kenkyu bunken mokuroku"(Bibliography of studies of historical contact between East and West) ([Kazutoshi Nagazawa]　[1980]　【G1-5】)
[Range] Meiji period-1955. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Geographic region> Theme> Book (by publication year)> Research paper (by publication year)
[Index] None
[Notes] Includes literature on historical contact between East and West occurring in Turkistan, Western Asia, Tibet, Northern Asia, and Southeast Asia, as well as the history of foreign relations with Korea, and the Dunhuang manuscripts. Related basic historical materials are provided at the beginning of each region.
"Kindai Asiakenkyu bunken mokuroku"(Bibliography of modern Asian studies) 15 vols. (Ozorasha　1996　【GE1-G4】)
[Notes] Includes facsimile editions of bibliographies and book catalogs from research institutions for China, Korea, Thailand, Burma, Indonesia issued up to 1945. Includes documents in English.
Bunsei Saku, ed., "Tibetkenkyu bunken mokuroku: chubun nichibun: 1945-1999" (Bibliography of Tibetan studies: Chinese, Japanese: 1945-1999) (Tokyo Gaikokugo Daigaku Asia Africa Gengo Kenkyujo　1999　【GE2-G10】)
[Range] 1877-1977. Books, articles published in journals
[Order] By subject
[Index] Author name index
[Notes] The book is divided into 'Japanese language' and 'Chinese Language' sections.