Shigeru Beizuka is a renowned Japanese historian of China, born in Tokyo and graduated from the Department of Oriental History at Kyoto University, where he studied under many predecessors. He has held multiple academic positions and has profound expertise in the study of ancient Chinese history. In his later years, he was awarded the title of Cultural Merit and the Cultural Medal. Shigeru Beizuka has visited China multiple times and has had academic interactions with many Chinese scholars, promoting cultural exchanges between China and Japan. His academic research was influenced by the first generation of Japanese Oriental historians, but he maintained an objective and pure stance, emphasizing the sorting and analysis of historical materials such as oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions. There is still a lack of systematic review of academic research on Shigeki Bezuka in China.

1、 Research on oracle bone script and bronze inscriptions

This article introduces the contributions of Japanese scholar Shigeru Bezuka in the field of Chinese history research, particularly in the study of oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions. By combining literature interpretation and analysis, Shigeru Bezuka promoted the development of oracle bone and epigraphy. His representative works on oracle bone script research include "Viewing Ancient China through Oracle Inscriptions", which explores the relationship between the construction of Shang Dynasty capital cities and indigenous beliefs, as well as the changes in the ruling power of the Shang Dynasty, by analyzing oracle bone inscriptions from the Yin ruins. In the field of bronze inscriptions, Shigeru Bezuka published papers such as "The Auspicious Language at the End of Western Zhou Jin Inscriptions", which conducted in-depth analysis on the identification of bronze inscriptions and the relationship between Shang and Zhou classics. His book "The Development of Ancient Chinese Historiography" systematically summarizes the academic research history of oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, and proposes new insights into the chronology of bronze inscriptions and the study of oracle bone inscriptions dating. The research of Shigeru Beizuka provided new ideas for later studies on oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, achieving new breakthroughs in the field of research.

2、 Interpreting the Theory of "Urban States"

The theory of "urban state" by Shigeru Bezuka is the core of his research on Chinese history, influenced by scholars from both the East and the West, and based on historical materials such as oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions. During his university years, Shigeru Bezuka developed an interest in ancient Chinese cities and later witnessed the images of these cities firsthand in Beijing, sparking his desire to study ancient Chinese states. Under the guidance of Hiroshi Haneda, Shigeki Bezuka published academic papers, firmly establishing his confidence in studying ancient Chinese history. In 1951, Shigeru Bezuka published the book "Confucius", which pointed out from the aspects of Confucius' life and beliefs that the era of Confucius was an era of transformation from a clan based urban state to a feudal state. Confucius pursued to surpass the feudal state and create a new bureaucratic state. He regarded Qufu of the State of Lu as a typical urban state, analyzing the basic elements of urban states such as city, suburbs, and sacrificial activities. The following year, Shigeru Bezuka published "Ancient States of China," exploring the forms of states during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, as well as the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period. He defined Shang and Zhou as ancient states, and Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period as urban states. He analyzed the process of the establishment and disintegration of urban states during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and believed that urban states were more independent than ancient states, mainly due to the gradual separation of Eastern feudal lords from the royal family and their independence. Beizuka Shigeki further excavated evidence from oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, and included the Shang and Zhou dynasties in the category of urban states. He believed that the Shang and Zhou dynasties had the dual characteristics of a lord state, transitioning from traditional urban states to the Qin and Han empires. He also adjusted the domination of different ethnic groups to tribute relations, enriched the relevant expressions, and outlined the basic context of the transformation of ancient Chinese society from an urban state to a territorial state. Shigeru Beizuka criticized and borrowed the views of Western and Japanese scholars, using comparative history and comparative civilization methods to expound on the characteristics of ancient Chinese urban states from a macro perspective.

3、 Commentary on Chinese Historical Classics

Beizuka Maoshu conducted in-depth research on Chinese historical classics, especially "Records of the Grand Historian" and "Shi Tong", absorbing the historical attitudes of Sima Qian and Liu Zhiji, and providing an ideological tone for his construction of a general history of China. He began reading "Records of the Grand Historian" during his middle school years and recognized its important position in Chinese historiography under the guidance of Shonan Naito at Kyoto University. Beizuka Shigeki assisted in compiling the index of "Records of the Grand Historian" and gained a deep understanding of Sima Qian's historical perspective, believing that his questioning of fate was the starting point of historical consciousness. He evaluated "Records of the Grand Historian" from the macro perspective of Chinese historiography, exploring Sima Qian's introspection on the issue of fate, and the secrets of "Records of the Grand Historian" as a biographical literature. Beizuka Shigeki also proposed the concept of the opposition between the developmental view of history and the ancient view of history, believing that Sima Qian was closer to the ancient view of history. He pointed out that Sima Qian used the historical philosophy and hermeneutics of "Spring and Autumn Annals" and "Spring and Autumn Annals" in "Records of the Grand Historian". In 1963, Mao Shu Beizuka published "Records of the Grand Historian - People in Ancient China", showcasing Sima Qian's subtle historical perspective. In addition, he conducted research on "Shi Tong" and affirmed its value, believing that Liu Zhiji's historical theory had the germ of modern history. Shigeru Beizuka also commented on other ancient historical books and classics, such as "Zuo Zhuan" and "Shang Shu", to promote related research.

4、 Constructing a General History of China

Mao Shu Beizuka's "History of China" is the core work of his construction of a general history of China, absorbing the research results of oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, continuing the theory of "urban states", and promoting the historical attitude of "Records of the Grand Historian" and "History of China". The book consists of 24 chapters, covering the origin of the Chinese nation to the establishment of the People's Republic of China. It draws on the achievements of the Chinese and Japanese historical circles and references the works of Eastern historians and Chinese scholars. In 1954, Mao Shu Beizuka visited China and exchanged ideas with Fan Wenlan and Hou Wailu, obtaining literature support. He ignored the division of time and focused on the perspective of political history, avoiding the "five stage theory" and using "state" and "empire" to govern Chinese history according to the changes of dynasties. Beizuka Shigeru established a national history, taking into account regional history, and examined China from an Asian regional perspective, believing that the geographical environment has a profound impact on China's national identity. His positioning of the period of minority rule in the Yuan and Qing dynasties was considered from the perspective of the relationship between various ethnic groups in the East and even the negotiation between the East and the West, leaning towards the integration of various ethnic groups in China, objectively reversing and correcting the historical writing of China during Japan's external expansion. Shizuki Kitsuka criticized the postwar Japanese historians' cognition of historical rules, and believed that historians should correctly understand the Chinese people's understanding of Chinese history and culture, and convey it to the Japanese people. His research involves fields such as intellectual history and cultural history, spanning multiple disciplines. The study of Chinese history by Shigeru Beizuka centers on ancient times, supported by oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, and centered on the theme of "urban states". It has made beneficial explorations in the study and development of ancient Chinese history, with both micro level research and grand system construction. It is an undeniable presence in the field of Japanese Chinese history research.