春雨直播app

The Japanese archipelago is rich in a variety of historical documents and records. Historical studies rely on deciphering the textual information recorded in these materials. Palaeography focuses on various elements of ancient documents, such as style and handwriting. This field has evolved by uncovering the textual and diverse historical information contained within these documents. One area of research within palaeography focuses on the paper used in these documents, particularly those from the ancient and medieval periods. This research field identifies and classifies the paper type based on the materials and traces left during the papermaking process and examines the context and usage of the paper. Studies of historical papers are conducted across fields such as history, natural sciences, papermaking science, and cultural property restoration. These studies currently employ various microscopes to observe and analyse the structure of the papers. Furthermore, the possibility of extracting information for various purposes beyond the historiographical perspective of text deciphering has been highlighted, and research and analysis methods for this purpose are actively being developed.
 
Examining historical materials as objects helps identify the various components of paper. This information is crucial for determining the type of paper used, understanding how it was produced and used, and restoring binding techniques. To gather information from historical materials, it is essential to employ comprehensive research and analysis methods grounded in natural sciences. “Science of Historical Materials: Multifaceted Analyses of Papers Used for Historical Materials” was published as a guidebook that aims to raise new possibilities for the study of ancient documents and to contribute to scientific research on historical materials not only in Japan but also in East Asia as a whole.
 
This book aims to serve as a guide to the science of historical materials. It is intended as a reference for individuals involved in the research, preservation, and transmission of historical materials at universities, municipalities, museums, archives, and libraries, as well as for those interested in analysing archives. The book advocates a new perspective on archival research.
 
This book preceded the research handbook “Starting Guidebook for Scientific Analysis: From Sampling to Interpretation” (), which was published as a guide for general researchers, who are not specialists in analysis, to help them observe and photograph historical materials. Based on the contents of this handbook, this book also provides perspectives on the sharing, linking, and internationalisation of research data pursued in related collaborative research projects. This book will help readers deepen their understanding of research that integrates the humanities and natural sciences.
 

(Written by SHIBUTANI Ayako, Project Assistant Researcher, Historiographical Institute / 2024)