[Important Event] October 16-21: Peking University History Department Professor Xin Deyong takes you on a tour of Japan

As the patterns on Shang and Zhou bronzes flow through time, as the architectural spirit of the Tang Dynasty stands quietly on the land of Japan, and as the stories in Bai Juyi's writings intertwine with the truth of Mawei Slope in the long river of history, a study tour spanning a thousand years awaits you. Let us follow the veins of culture, step into the Kansai region of Japan, and explore those imprints closely connected with Chinese history and culture.

Xin Deyong

Professor and doctoral supervisor in the Department of History at Peking University, Director of the Center for Ancient Geography and Ancient Documents Research at Peking University, President of the Historical Geography Research Association of the Chinese Historical Society, and Chief Expert of the Expert Group for the "Series of Activities on the Protection and Inheritance of the Historical Culture of Beijing's Central Axis." He previously served as Director of the Historical Geography Research Office and Deputy Director of the Institute of History at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, concurrently serving as Director of the Department of History at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Editor-in-Chief of *Chinese Historical Studies*. He has received numerous awards, including "National Outstanding Young and Middle-aged Expert" and "Changjiang Scholar" from the Ministry of Education. His research publications include over 60 books, such as *Establishing and Changing the Era Name*, *Marquis of Haihun Liu He*, *Discovering the Yanran Mountain Inscription*, *A New Edition of the Records of the Grand Historian*, *Exploring the Origins of the Tianli Era*, *A Collection of Studies on the Two Capitals of the Sui and Tang Dynasties*, and *Manufacturing Emperor Wu of Han*.

Study tour destinations

Zenrin-ji Temple (also known as Eikando) is a temple located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It is the head temple of the Nishizan Zenrin-ji branch of the Jodo sect of Buddhism. Its mountain name is "Shojūrai-san" (聖众来迎山), and its temple name is "Muryoju-in" (無量寿院). The principal image is Amitabha Buddha, and its founder was Shinshō, a prominent disciple of Kūkai. It is commonly known as Eikando (永观堂), a famous spot for autumn leaves in Kyoto, and has been called "Eikando of Autumn Leaves" since ancient times.

Sen-oku Hakuko Kan

The Sen-Oku Hakukokan Museum belongs to the Sumitomo family, one of Japan's four major conglomerates. It houses over 3,000 items, with its core collection consisting of approximately 500 Chinese bronzes and ancient bronze mirrors. The name "Sen-Oku" comes from the family's business name, while "Hakuko" is derived from the Song Dynasty Chinese bronze catalogue, "Xuanhe Bogu Tulu."

Nanzenji Temple

Nanzen-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Japan. It is the head temple of the Nanzen-ji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, and its mountain name is Zuiryuzan. The principal image is Shakyamuni Buddha. It was founded in 1291 by Emperor Kameyama, with the first abbot being the Great Ming National Preceptor, Guan Quan Pumen. Its official name is Taihei Kōkoku Nanzen Zen-ji (Japanese: 太平興國南禅禅寺). Nanzen-ji is the earliest imperial temple in Japan built by imperial decree, thus ranking above the Kyoto Gozan and Kamakura Gozan, making it the highest-ranking Zen temple in Japan.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

Located in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, Japan, this shrine is the head shrine of approximately 30,000 Inari shrines throughout Japan, and the shrine with the most first-time pilgrims in the Kinki region (ranked 4th in Japan in 2010). It is famous for its "Senbon Torii" (thousands of torii gates) within its grounds.

It is one of the Shikinai Shrines (Nakajin Taisha) and the Twenty-Two Shrines (Kami-Shichi Shrines). Formerly a government-approved shrine, it is now a separate shrine not under the jurisdiction of the Shinto Shrine Headquarters. The surviving shrine family is the Onishi family.

Quanyong Temple

It is a temple located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, and is the head temple of the Sennyuji school of Shingon Buddhism. Its mountain name is "Higashiyama" (東山) or "Senzan" (泉山). The principal image is Shakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, and Maitreya Buddha, representing the Three Buddhas of the Three Worlds. Its founder was Gekrin Daishi Shunzo. Within the temple grounds at the foot of Mount Gekrin, at the southern end of the thirty-six peaks of Higashiyama, lies the Gekrin Mausoleum, where the tombs of Emperor Go-Horikawa and Emperor Shijo of the Kamakura period, Emperor Go-Mizunoo of the Edo period, and Emperor Komei of the late Edo period are buried. As a temple dedicated to the imperial family, it is known as "Goji Sennyuji" (御寺泉涌寺).

Rokuon-ji Temple is also known as Kinkaku-ji Temple

Completed in 1397 (the fourth year of the Ōei era), this Japanese Buddhist temple is located in Kita Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is a temple of the Sōkoku-ji school of the Rinzai sect. Its name comes from the posthumous name of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate during the Muromachi period of Japan. Because the outer walls of the temple’s core building, the Shariden, are all decorated with gold leaf, it is also known as the “Golden Pavilion”.

In fact, the well-known name "Kinkaku-ji" does not accurately represent the entire temple. The temple emphasizes that "Rokuon-ji" is the name of the entire temple complex, while "Kinkaku" is one of its halls. "Kinkaku" itself is also an abbreviation; its true name is "Shariden" (Relic Hall).

Tōshōdai-ji Temple

The head temple of the Ritsu sect of Buddhism in Japan. Located in Gojo-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. It is a temple built in the style of the Tang Dynasty by the eminent Chinese monk Jianzhen. It is currently listed as a National Treasure of Japan and was designated a World Heritage Site in 1998 as part of the "Cultural Properties of Ancient Nara".

Nara National Museum

The museum was built based on the Akasaka Imperial Villa designed by the court architect Katayama Tokuma in 1894 (Meiji 27). In addition to exhibiting general artworks, the museum also regularly holds valuable items for various temples in Nara Prefecture. Every autumn, the "Shosoin Exhibition" is also held regularly.

Todai-ji Temple

Todai-ji is the head temple of the Kegon sect of Japanese Buddhism and one of the Seven Great Temples of Nara. It was built in 728 by Emperor Shomu, a devout Buddhist, and is named for its location east of the capital, Heijō-kyō. There is a corresponding temple, Saidai-ji. Emperor Shomu subsequently built over 68 Kokubun-ji (officially known as "Konkokō Shitenno-gokoku-no-ji") throughout Japan, with Todai-ji being the highest-ranking head temple.

The Great Buddha Hall of this temple is 57 meters wide and 50 meters deep, making it the world's largest wooden structure. Inside, it houses a 15-meter-tall statue of the Vairocana Buddha. Other buildings within the temple complex include the South Gate, Nigatsu-do Hall, Sangatsu-do Hall, and the Shosoin Repository. The South Gate features the famous twin Vajra warrior statues; Nigatsu-do Hall offers panoramic views of the Great Buddha Hall and Nara city.

Registration Instructions

Assembly/Dissolution

●Meeting in Osaka, Japan on October 16, 2025 (Thursday) and disbanding in Osaka, Japan on October 21, 2025 (Tuesday). Please make appropriate arrangements for your itinerary before and after the meeting.

Precautions

●Our customer service will contact you one week in advance after you register. Please keep your WeChat and phone accessible.

●Children under 6 years old are not recommended to participate. Minors aged 6-14 and seniors over 70 years old must be accompanied by a family member to register.

●This study abroad program in Japan involves visa issues, which you will need to handle yourself. Please be sure to allow ample time for the visa application process to avoid affecting your study abroad plans!

Activity Fees

●The fee includes: meals, accommodation, transportation, and lectures by the instructor from the time of assembly until the end of the assembly period;

●The fee does not include: round-trip transportation before and after the meeting, and other expenses not listed.

Worry-free refund policy

●If the event is cancelled due to reasons attributable to the organizer, all fees will be refunded.

●If the event is cancelled due to force majeure, all unused fees will be refunded;

●If you are unable to attend the event due to personal reasons, no refund will be given (spot is transferable). Please do not bid if you mind. Thank you for your understanding.