Comprehensive Research OrganizationWaseda University

China is a country of «letters». They have made up memories of the land, constituting the crucial proof of continuity and unity of its long-lasting manifold civilization and history. From ancient times, letters have been recorded in a variety of media, such as bones, stones, bamboo strips etc. However, thanks to the invention of papers and printing, their scope of transmission and reception has greatly extended in space and time. Our institute deals with every conceivable written material (in Chinese letters) of all ages and regions, irrespective of physical forms. In doing so, we take the standpoint of analyzing information contained in the material, as «signs of civilization» of the region. Thereby we aim to comprehensively explore cultural phenomena as seen in various kinds of written material, including, e. g. obscure leaflets for commons, in addition to bibliographical and philological studies on well known «classic books».