Japanese studies and scholarly legacy: A tribute for Library collections of Russia

Abstract

The article deals with the origins and evolutionary history of the main libraries’ collections in Russia (St. Petersburg and Moscow), which are of great significance for the scholars involved in Japanese studies or Oriental studies. The concerned libraries specifics’ analyses also demonstrate interlink with the evolution of Russian science and museum collections since Peter the Great epoch. The unique character of the mentioned library stocks should be taken into account due to the kind of oriental research activity. Being changed in their historical transformations nowadays, we know the libraries of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, Kunstkamera, Science Academy Library, Russian National Library, Library of St. Petersburg State University. Some shift of “Oriental studies” to Moscow region had taken place later, according to with the need of establishing museum-library-educational institutions in that important city of Russia too (about the mid of 19th century). The process started from the moving from St. Petersburg to Moscow of the collections of Rumyantsev Museum, which had formed the base for the greatest Russian Library — “Leninka”. Approximately the same time had marked the appearance of State Public Historical Library (GPIB), Asia and Africa Institute Library at Moscow University (ISAA). Russian State Library of Foreign Literature (VGBIL), the library in the Institute of information for social studies (INION) had appeared in Moscow in the Soviet period. After the Second World War was founded Moscow Oriental Institute (IVAN) and Far East studies Institute (IDV). The above-mentioned libraries and institutions are basic book collections for Oriental studies in Russia till nowadays.