Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University (京都大学人文科学研究所) is an institution for research at Kyoto University. It specializes in humanities and ethno-ecological studies. It has a distinctive school tradition, as heir to the philosophically oriented Kyoto School, but differs from the latter in its broader cultural interests.

History

Early history

The Institute for Research in Humanities was established in 1949 by re-organizing institutes in Kyoto. One of the core was the Institute for Oriental Culture, Kyoto. Institute for Oriental Culture was established in Tokyo and Kyoto in 1929. The establishment was one of the governmental cultural projects undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The building is the current main building, which was completed in November 1930. The first director was Kano Naoki, who is a sinologist. In 1938, The Institute for Oriental Culture was split in two by the difference in policy.

After the Pacific War

Organization

There are five research divisions and one attached research center.