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

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As the bronze carvings of the Shang and Zhou dynasties flow through time, as the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty stands tall in Japan, and as the stories of Bai Juyi and the truth of Mawei Slope intertwine in the long river of history, a journey of study spanning millennia awaits you. Let's follow the cultural veins of Kansai, Japan, and explore the traces that are closely connected to Chinese history and culture.

Xin Deyong

Professor and doctoral supervisor in the Department of History at Peking University, Director of the Center for Paleogeography 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 "Beijing Central Axis Historical Culture and Heritage Protection Series." 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 Director of the History Department of the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Chinese Historical Studies. He has been awarded the title of "National Young and Middle-aged Expert with Outstanding Contributions" and a Yangtze River Scholar by the Ministry of Education. His research publications include "Founding and Changing the Regime," "Liu He, Marquis of Haihun," "The Discovery of the Yanran Mountain Inscription," "A Critique of the New Edition of the Records of the Grand Historian," "The Origin of the Tianli Calendar," "A Collection of Studies on the Two Capitals of the Sui and Tang Dynasties," and "The Creation of Emperor Wu of Han," among over 60 others.

Study Abroad Attractions

Zenrin-ji Temple (also known as Eikan-do) is a temple located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It is the head temple of the Seiyama Zenrin-ji sect of the Pure Land Buddhism. The mountain is known as "Shoju-rai-gōsan" ("Holy Soups Welcome Mountain"), and the monastery is called "Muraishu-in." The principal deity is Amitabha Nyorai, and the founder was Shinsho, a disciple of Kukai. Commonly referred to as Eikan-do ("Eikan-do"), it is a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves in Kyoto, and has long been known as "Eikan-do of the Autumn Leaves."

Izumiya Hakukan

The Sen-Oku Hakukokan Museum, affiliated with the Sumitomo family, one of Japan's four largest financial groups, boasts a collection of over 3,000 items, with a core collection consisting of approximately 500 Chinese bronzes and ancient bronze mirrors. The name "Izumiya" comes from the family business name, and "Bogu" is a reference to the Xuanhe Bogutulu, a catalog of Chinese Song Dynasty bronzes.

Nanzenji Temple

A Buddhist temple in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan, it is the head temple of the Nanzenji sect of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Mount Zuiryusan is known as Zuiryusan. Its principal deity is Shakyamuni Tathagata. Founded in 1291 by Emperor Kameyama, the first abbot was Daimyo Kokushi Kankan. Officially known as Taiheikōkō Nanzenzen-ji Temple (Japanese: 太平兴国南zenzenzen-ji), Nanzen-ji Temple is the oldest imperially commissioned temple in Japan, 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, Japan, this shrine is the head shrine of approximately 30,000 Inari shrines throughout Japan. It is also the most visited shrine in the Kinki region (ranked fourth in Japan in 2010) and is famous for its Thousand Torii gates.

It is one of the Shikinai-sha (Meishin Taisha) and one of the Twenty-two Shrines (Upper Seven Shrines). Previously a government-appointed Taisha, it is now an independent shrine not affiliated with the main shrine office. The current surviving shrine owner is the Ōnishi family.

Quanyong Temple

This temple is located in Higashiyama, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, and is the head temple of the Senyuji lineage of the Shingon sect. The mountain is known as "Touzan" (東山) or "Senzan" (せんざん). Its principal deities are the Three Buddhas of the Past, Present, Present, and Present: Shakyamuni, Amida, and Maitreya. Its founder is Gekurin Daishi Shunmai. Within the temple grounds, at the foot of Gekurinyama, the southern tip of the Thirty-Six Peaks of Higashiyama, lies the Gekurin Mausoleum, where successive emperors, including Emperor Go-Horikawa and Emperor Shijo of the Kamakura Period, and Emperor Go-Mizunoo of the Edo Period, down to Emperor Komei at the end of the shogunate, are buried. As the royal family's family temple, it is known as "Goji Senyuji."

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

This Japanese Buddhist temple, first completed in 1397 (the fourth year of Oei), is located in Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is a temple of the Rinzai sect of the Shokoku-ji school. Its name comes from the Dharma name of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Ashikaga clan during the Muromachi period in Japan. Because the exterior walls of the "Shariden", the core building in the temple, are decorated entirely with gold foil, it is also called the "Golden Pavilion".

In fact, the name "Kinkaku-ji Temple" as it's commonly known doesn't accurately represent the entire temple. The temple emphasizes that "Kinkaku-ji Temple" is the name of the entire temple, while "Kinkaku" refers to a hall within it. The Golden Pavilion itself is also a shorthand name; its true name is "Shariden."

Toshodai-ji Temple

The head temple of the Ritsu sect of Japanese Buddhism, located in Gojo-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. Built in the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty by the eminent Chinese monk Jianzhen, it is currently a designated National Treasure of Japan and was inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage in 1998 as part of the "Cultural Properties of Ancient Nara."

Nara National Museum

This museum was modeled after the Akasaka Imperial Villa, designed by court architect Katayama Tokuma in 1894 (Meiji 27). In addition to exhibiting general art, the museum also frequently displays valuable items entrusted to various temples in Nara Prefecture. The Shosoin Exhibition is also held every autumn.

Todai-ji Temple

The head temple of the Kegon school of Japanese Buddhism and one of the Seven Great Temples of Nanto. Built in 728 by the devoted Buddhist Emperor Shomu, it earned its name from its location east of the capital, Heijokyo-kyō. It also houses Saidai-ji Temple, a corresponding temple. Emperor Shomu subsequently constructed over 68 Kokubun-ji temples (officially known as the "Temple of the Four Heavenly Kings Protecting the Country") across Japan, with Todai-ji Temple being the highest-ranking headquarters.

The Great Buddha Hall at this temple is 57 meters wide and 50 meters deep, making it the world's largest wooden structure. It houses a statue of Vairocana Buddha, over 15 meters tall. The temple also includes the Nandaemun Gate, Nigatsu-do Hall, Sangatsu-do Hall, and the Shosoin Repository. The Nandaemun Gate houses the famous twin Vajrapani statues. Nigatsu-do Hall overlooks the Great Buddha Hall and the city of Nara.

Registration Instructions

Assembly/Disbandment

● The group will gather in Osaka, Japan on October 16, 2025 (Thursday) and disband in Osaka, Japan on October 21 (Tuesday). Please make appropriate arrangements for your schedule before and after the gathering.

Precautions

● Customer service will contact you one week in advance after registration, so please keep your WeChat and phone numbers open;

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

●This study tour in Japan involves visa processing, which you will need to handle on your own. Please allow ample time for this process in advance to avoid any disruption to your study tour plans!

Activity Fees

●The fee includes: meals, accommodation, transportation and lectures from the time of gathering to the time of disbanding;

●The fee does not include: round trips 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, any unincurred fees will be refunded;

●If you are unable to participate in the event due to personal reasons, no refund will be given (the place is transferable). Please do not take pictures if you mind. Thank you for your understanding.