Japanese Scholars' Perspectives on the Outlook on Life in Chinese Literature: A Case Study of Yoshikawa Kojiro and Rokuro Shiha

Abstract

Yoshikawa Kojiro’s History of Chinese Poetry and Rokuro Shiha’s Loneliness in Chinese Literature, as pivotal works in the study of ancient Chinese literature in the field of Japanese sinology, focus on the outlook of life in ancient Chinese literature and present notably divergent conclusions. While both scholars share a relatively consistent view on the predominantly pessimistic tone of Literature in the Han, Wei, and Six Dynasties, their interpretations diverge significantly regarding Pre-Qin Literature and Tang Dynasty Literature. Yoshikawa argues that these two periods reflect an optimistic stance, contrasting sharply with Shiha’s emphasis on the deepening “aloneness” in literary works. By comparing the content and perspectives of these two works, it becomes evident that their structural frameworks warrant critical scrutiny, while their thematic focuses and periodization methods markedly differ from the approaches of domestic scholars.