# oriental studies

> study of Asia and Asian history, cultures, languages, peoples, etc.

**Wikidata**: [Q476294](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q476294)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_studies)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/oriental-studies

## Summary
Oriental studies is the academic discipline focused on the study of Asia and Asian history, cultures, languages, peoples, and societies. It encompasses interdisciplinary research in geography, history, culture, politics, economy, ethnology, and languages within Asian contexts.

## Key Facts
- Oriental studies is classified as an academic discipline and area studies field
- It includes specialized branches such as sinology, Japanese studies, Korean studies, Arabic studies, Islamic studies, and Turkology
- The field emerged as part of broader area studies research methodologies
- Major institutions include the Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (founded 1795), Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (founded 1823), and American Schools of Oriental Research (founded 1900)
- The term has aliases including Orientalics, Orientalism, Asian studies, and Asia studies
- It is classified under subject headings including 492.072, 892.072 in the Dewey Decimal Classification
- The field includes Semitic studies, Arabic studies, and Islamic studies as contained disciplines
- Associated academic organizations include the Association for Asian Studies (founded 1941) and Société Asiatique (founded 1822)

## FAQs
### Q: What is oriental studies?
A: Oriental studies is the academic discipline focused on the study of Asia and Asian history, cultures, languages, peoples, and societies. It encompasses interdisciplinary research in geography, history, culture, politics, economy, ethnology, and languages within Asian contexts.

### Q: What are the main branches of oriental studies?
A: The main branches include sinology (study of China), Japanese studies, Korean studies, Arabic studies, Islamic studies, Turkology, Mongolian studies, and Semitic studies. These represent specialized area studies focused on specific Asian regions and cultures.

### Q: What institutions are prominent in oriental studies?
A: Prominent institutions include the Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (founded 1795), Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (founded 1823), American Schools of Oriental Research (founded 1900), and various university faculties worldwide.

### Q: How does oriental studies relate to area studies?
A: Oriental studies is a subset of area studies, which encompasses interdisciplinary fields of research in geography, history, culture, politics, economy, ethnology, languages, and sociology within national, regional, or local contexts to describe or explain specificities.

### Q: What are some notable scholars in oriental studies?
A: Notable scholars include Friedrich Max Müller, William Jones, Rasmus Rask, Ignaz Goldziher, Patricia Crone, Alexander von Humboldt, and numerous other orientalists who contributed to the field across centuries.

## Why It Matters
Oriental studies plays a crucial role in understanding Asian civilizations, cultures, and societies from academic perspectives. The discipline provides essential knowledge about Asian history, languages, religions, and cultural practices that inform diplomatic relations, international business, cultural exchanges, and academic research. It serves as a bridge between Eastern and Western intellectual traditions, facilitating cross-cultural understanding and scholarly collaboration. The field has historically shaped Western understanding of Asian societies and continues to influence contemporary geopolitical and cultural relationships. Oriental studies institutions and scholars have preserved and translated important Asian texts, contributing to global knowledge and cultural heritage preservation.

## Notable For
- Being the foundational academic discipline for understanding Asian civilizations and cultures
- Including diverse specialized branches covering different Asian regions and peoples
- Establishing major research institutions and academic societies worldwide
- Producing extensive scholarship on Asian languages, literature, history, and religions
- Influencing diplomatic and cultural relations between East and West
- Preserving and translating important Asian texts and manuscripts
- Training generations of scholars in Asian languages and cultures

## Body
### Academic Classification and Scope
Oriental studies is classified as both an academic discipline and area studies field. It encompasses the study of Asia and Asian history, cultures, languages, peoples, and societies. The discipline is part of the broader category of area studies, which involves interdisciplinary research in geography, history, culture, politics, economy, ethnology, languages, and sociology within specific national, regional, or local contexts.

### Branches and Specializations
The field includes several specialized branches that focus on specific Asian regions and cultures. Sinology concentrates on the study of China, including its language, literature, history, and culture. Japanese studies focuses specifically on Japan as an area study. Korean studies is dedicated to the academic discipline focusing on Korea. Arabic studies examines the Arabs and Arab world. Islamic studies deals with the study of Islam. Turkology encompasses the complex of humanities sciences studying languages, history, literature, folklore, culture, and ethnology of people speaking Turkic languages. Additional specializations include Mongolian studies, Ottoman studies, Semitic studies, and Hebrew literature studies.

### Historical Development
The field has roots in European scholarly traditions dating back centuries. Early orientalists like Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron, William Jones, and Rasmus Rask established foundational approaches to Asian languages and cultures. The discipline expanded significantly during the 18th and 19th centuries with scholars like Friedrich Max Müller, who became a German-born British philologist, orientalist, and indologist. The establishment of formal institutions marked institutionalization of the field.

### Major Institutions
The Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (INALCO) represents one of the oldest institutions in France dedicated to oriental languages, tracing its origins to 1669 when established as the École des Jeunes de langues by Jean-Baptiste Colbert. It was renamed the École spéciale des langues orientales in 1795 and evolved into its current form in 1971. The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded in 1823 as a learned society in the field of Asian studies in the United Kingdom. The American Schools of Oriental Research began operations in 1900 as a research organization. The Association for Asian Studies was established in 1941 as a scholarly non-profit professional association.

### Notable Scholars and Practitioners
The field has attracted numerous distinguished scholars across centuries. Friedrich Max Müller was a German-born British philologist, orientalist, and indologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of Asian languages and cultures. William Jones was an Anglo-Welsh philologist and scholar of ancient India. Rasmus Rask was a Danish linguist who contributed to comparative linguistics. Patricia Crone was a Danish orientalist and historian. Ignaz Goldziher was a Hungarian orientalist and scholar. Other notable figures include Alexander von Humboldt, Michael Jan de Goeje, Adriaan Reland, and countless others who shaped the field.

### Contemporary Organizations
Modern organizations continue to support oriental studies research and scholarship. The Association for Asian Studies serves as a scholarly non-profit professional association. The Société Asiatique is a French learned society dedicated to the study of Asia, founded in 1822. The Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft is a historical society founded in 1845. The American Society for Premodern Asia focuses on researching languages and literature of the Near East and Asia. The Tōyō Bunko is a library of orientalism in Japan established in 1924.

### Academic Impact and Publications
The field has produced extensive scholarly publications and translations of Asian texts. Academic journals and research publications continue to advance knowledge in oriental studies. The discipline has contributed to understanding of Asian philosophical systems, religious traditions, literary works, and historical developments. Scholars have translated important texts from various Asian languages, making them accessible to broader audiences and facilitating comparative studies across cultures.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Nuovo soggettario](https://thes.bncf.firenze.sbn.it/termine.php?id=17544)
3. Nuovo soggettario
4. BabelNet
5. UMLS 2023
6. Quora
7. National Library of Israel
8. KBpedia
9. [Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands](https://biblio.hiu.cas.cz/records/c8f60570-34bb-44fe-a5f3-7cc7e010b537)
10. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)