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考証学 (こうしょうがく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
evidential textual research ; textual criticism
A scholarly method of verifying historical texts through rigorous examination of evidence, especially associated with Ming dynasty China. In Japanese contexts, it refers to the same critical approach to classical documents.
彼かれ は 考こう 証しょう 学がく の 手しゅ 法ほう を 用もち い て 古こ 文ぶん 書しょ の 真しん 偽ぎ を 調しら べ た 。
He examined the authenticity of the ancient documents using the methods of evidential textual research.
Kanji 証 evidence, proof, certificate 学 study, learning, science Similar words 文ぶん 献けん 学がく 文献学 is a broader term for philology or the study of written documents, while 考証学 specifically emphasizes evidential verification and criticism, often with a historical focus on Chinese classics.
考こう 証しょう 考証 is the general act of historical investigation or verification, whereas 考証学 refers to the academic discipline or methodology itself.
Etymology From 考証 (kōshō, 'historical investigation') + 学 (-gaku, 'study'). The term was coined to describe the evidential research movement (kǎozhèng xué) that flourished in China during the Ming and Qing dynasties.