黄色网站

Echoes of a Millennium: NBU Explores Historical Ties with Japan's Hiraizumi in Special Lecture

By Sasaki Ami   Translated by Cheng Shiyi   Reviewed by He Ying

Ningbo, China – On September 24, 2025, the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Ningbo University hosted an academic lecture by Professor Toshihiro Yabu, a Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University and Honorary Professor of Iwate University, Japan. Under the theme "A Classic Two-City Case Study in Cross-Cultural Communication: Ningbo and Hiraizumi," Professor Yabu delivered an in-depth analysis that shed new light on the millenia-spanning cultural connections between the two cities.

Professor Yabu’s lecture centered on the cultural heritage of Hiraizumi, a medieval Japanese town in Iwate Prefecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. He explored the formation of its cultural landscape and its profound historical links with China—especially Zhejiang Province and the Ningbo region. He emphasized that the emergence of Hiraizumi’s culture was closely tied to the dynamic flow of goods and cultural interchange across East Asia at the time.

Archaeological findings reveal that a significant amount of Chinese ceramics unearthed in Hiraizumi were likely produced in Fujian or Zhejiang, with Longquan kiln ware from Jin Village being particularly prized. In addition, Japanese gardens of the period—including those in Hiraizumi—were deeply influenced by the architectural and aesthetic traditions of Tang Dynasty China, particularly the Daming Palace complex in the capital city of Chang’an.

Professor Yabu also highlighted the close religious ties between Japan’s Tendai sect (known in China as Tiantai Buddhism) and several temples in Zhejiang. As a major port of departure and return for Japanese envoys to Sui and Tang China, Ningbo served as a critical conduit for cultural and religious exchange, leaving behind a rich legacy of historical artifacts.

In a compelling final point, Professor Yabu suggested that the place name Hiraizumi may derive from Pingquan, an area in Luoyang, China, referenced in the works of the Tang poets Bai Juyi and Li Deyu—further illustrating the deep literary and historical interconnections between the two cultures.

The lecture provided valuable insights for students and faculty alike, enhancing understanding of Ningbo’s historical role in East Asian cultural exchange and reinforcing the academic mission of the Faculty of Foreign Languages to foster cross-cultural dialogue and international collaboration.