Website: www.toyo-bunko.or.jp
The Toyo Bunko (Toyo Library) is Japan's largest library for Asian studies, located in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. Its main collection comprises ancient books and masterpieces from Japan, China, and many other Asian countries. As one of the most important Asian studies institutions in Japan and globally, the Toyo Bunko is not only a library but also an academic research center dedicated to promoting research in Asian history, culture, language, and society. The Toyo Bunko's website is www.toyo-bunko.or.jp, through which users can access a wealth of digital resources and learn about the library's collections, activities, and research projects.
Historical Background of the Toyo Bunko
The history of the Toyo Bunko can be traced back to the early 20th century. Its establishment is closely related to Iwasaki Hisaya, a prominent industrialist in modern Japanese history. Iwasaki Hisaya was the eldest son of Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of the Mitsubishi Group. After achieving business success, he invested heavily in cultural endeavors, including the establishment of the Toyo Bunko. In 1917, Iwasaki Hisaya purchased a collection of rare Chinese books from British scholar and diplomat Edmund Backhouse, which formed the initial foundation of the Toyo Bunko's collection.
The Toyo Bunko was officially established in 1924, initially housed in the private library of the Iwasaki family. Over time, the Bunko expanded, and its collection of books and documents grew increasingly rich. By the mid-20th century, the Toyo Bunko had become one of the most important Asian studies institutions in Japan and even globally. Today, the Toyo Bunko is not only a library but also an academic research center, attracting scholars and researchers from all over the world.
Collections of the Toyo Bunko
The Toyo Bunko's collection encompasses ancient books and masterpieces from various Asian countries and regions, particularly documents from China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and India. The collection exceeds one million volumes, including a large number of rare books, unique copies, and manuscripts. Below are some of the Toyo Bunko's important collections:
- Ancient Chinese Books: The Toyo Bunko (Oriental Library) houses a vast collection of ancient Chinese books, including the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), the Yongle Encyclopedia, and the Twenty-Four Histories. These documents are not only important records of Chinese history and culture but also crucial resources for studying ancient Chinese society, economy, politics, and thought.
- Japanese Antiques: The library also houses a large collection of Japanese antiques, including the Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, and Manyoshu. These documents are important resources for the study of ancient Japanese history, culture, and language.
- Korean Classics: The Dongyang Library also houses a considerable number of Korean classics, including the *Samguk Sagi*, *Goryeo Sa*, and *Joseon Dynasty Annals*. These documents are important resources for the study of Korean history and culture.
- Mongolian and Tibetan Documents: The collection also includes Mongolian and Tibetan documents, such as "The Secret History of the Mongols" and "The Tibetan Buddhist Canon." These documents are important resources for the study of Mongolian and Tibetan history, culture, and religion.
- Other Asian documents: The Toyo Bunko also houses documents from India, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, including the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and ancient Persian scriptures. These documents are important resources for studying the history, culture, and religion of these regions.
Academic research of the Toyo Bunko
The Toyo Bunko is not only a library, but also an academic research center. It has a dedicated research department committed to promoting the study of Asian history, culture, language, and society. The institute's researchers include historians, linguists, sociologists, and religious scholars, whose research covers all aspects of Asia.
The Toyo Bunko also regularly hosts academic conferences, lectures, and exhibitions, inviting scholars and experts from home and abroad to share their research findings. These activities not only promote academic exchange but also enhance public awareness and understanding of Asian history and culture.
In addition, the Toyo Bunko has published a series of academic journals and monographs, which are distributed globally and have become important reference materials for the study of Asian history and culture.
Digital resources of Toyo Bunko
With the development of information technology, the Toyo Bunko is also actively promoting the digitization of its collections. Currently, the Bunko has digitized a large number of ancient books and documents and made them available to the public through its website. Users can access these digital resources online for reading and research.
The digital resources of the Toyo Bunko include:
- Digitalized Ancient Books: The library has digitized a large number of ancient books, and users can read high-resolution images of these books online.
- Digital Documents: The library also digitizes its collection of documents, allowing users to access the full text of these documents online.
- Digital Maps: The library also houses a large collection of ancient maps, which have been digitized and can be viewed online in high-resolution images.
- Digital photographs: The library also houses a large collection of historical photographs, which have been digitized and can be viewed online in high-resolution images.
These digital resources make it easier for users to access the Toyo Bunko's collections for research and study.
Public activities of the Toyo Bunko
The Toyo Bunko is not only an academic research institution but also a cultural institution open to the public. It regularly hosts various public events, including exhibitions, lectures, and workshops, aiming to enhance public awareness and understanding of Asian history and culture.
The following are some of the public events held by the Toyo Bunko:
- Exhibitions: The library regularly hosts exhibitions on various themes, showcasing its collection of ancient books, documents, maps, photographs, and more. These exhibitions not only attract large audiences but also enhance public interest in Asian history and culture.
- Lectures: The library also regularly hosts lectures on various topics, inviting scholars and experts from home and abroad to share their research findings. These lectures not only promote academic exchange but also enhance public awareness and understanding of Asian history and culture.
- Workshops: The library also regularly hosts workshops on various themes, inviting the public to participate, interact, and learn. These workshops not only increase public engagement but also promote public research into Asian history and culture.
The future development of Toyo Bunko
With the development of globalization and informatization, the Toyo Bunko is constantly adjusting and optimizing its development strategy to adapt to the requirements of the new era. In the future, the Toyo Bunko will continue to dedicate itself to promoting research on Asian history, culture, language and society, while also further strengthening its digitization efforts and expanding the coverage of its digital resources.
Furthermore, the Toyo Bunko will continue to strengthen its cooperation with other research institutions and libraries both domestically and internationally, promoting international collaboration and exchange in Asian studies. Through these efforts, the Toyo Bunko will continue to play its important role globally, becoming a significant center for Asian studies.
How to access the Toyo Bunko (Oriental Library)
The Toyo Bunko (Oriental Library) is located in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, and is open to the public for visits and research. The library is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Mondays and public holidays. Visitors can consult the library's collection of ancient books and documents in the reading rooms and participate in various public events held by the library.
In addition, the public can access its digital resources through the Toyo Bunko website (www.toyo-bunko.or.jp) for online reading and research. The website has a simple and clear interface, allowing users to easily search and browse the Bunko's collection.
Conclusion
The Toyo Bunko is one of the most important Asian studies institutions in Japan and the world, making significant contributions to the study of Asian history and culture through its rich collections and outstanding research. Through its website and public events, the Toyo Bunko not only provides valuable research resources to the academic community but also popularizes knowledge of Asian history and culture among the public. In the future, the Toyo Bunko will continue its commitment to promoting the development of Asian studies and becoming a major center for Asian studies.
