My Career and Vision

Belgium

Ellen Van Goethem

Associate Professor and Co-chair, International MA Program andInternational Doctorate in Japanese Humanities,
Faculty of Humanities, Kyushu University
Assistant Professor, Department of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies, Hosei University, JapanJapan Foundation Japanese Studies Fellow, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Canon Foundation in Europe Fellow, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Full-time Assisting Academic Staff, Department of Languages and Cultures of South and East
Asia, Ghent University, Belgium
Ph.D., Oriental Languages and Cultures, Ghent University, Belgium

My Research Interests
I specialize in Japanese history and the history of ideas, with a primary focus on developments
between the seventh and early ninth centuries, a period of radical changes within the Japanesearchipelago. I am especially interested in ancient city planning, which I approach from two
different angles. At the physical level, I examine how and why the layout of Japan’s capitalcities and palaces changed over time. In addition to official histories, inscribed wooden tablets(mokkan) that have been excavated in recent decades are an important source of information forthis type of research. At the religious-philosophical level, I conduct research on site divination
to determine which principles and beliefs were important when a site for a new residence,palace, or capital was chosen. Site divination practices are part of what is popularly known as
fengshui, which originated in ancient China and spread via Korea to Japan.
My current research project, supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(KAKEN) and Kyushu University grants, focuses on the shijin (literally “four gods”). Theshijin are the guardian deities of the four directions: the Azure Dragon which protects the eastor left of a site, the White Tiger which
protects the west or right, the Vermillion
Sparrow which protects the south or front,
and the Black Turtle-Snake which protects
the north or back. In addition to the rolethese shijin played in ancient times, I also
investigate when, how, and why these four
deities of Chinese origin became an integral
part of the rituals, art, and architecture of anumber of prominent Shinto shrines.

I have been working in academia since1999 when I was hired by the department
from which I had just graduated. This
position offered me the opportunity topursue a Ph.D. degree while teaching avariety of courses related to Japan. From
2006, I spent two years as a visiting scholar
at Ritsumeikan University, supported bygrants from the Canon Foundation in
Europe and the Japan Foundation. In 2008,
I took up a position at Hosei University, andthree years later I moved to Kyushu
University.
In addition to teaching undergraduate
students, I am responsible for theInternational Master’s Program (IMAP) inJapanese Humanities together withProfessor Cynthea Bogel. This program,established in 2011, is conducted in English
and focuses on premodern Japan. Students
from around the globe, both Japanese andnon-Japanese, work side by side to achieve
their goals with closely-guided study. Oneof the annual highlights is the weeklong
study excursion to the Kansai area. We try
to add something new and special each time

we go and are often able to arrange special
access to the storehouses and back areas ofshrines and temples. I believe that thishands-on approach with in situ study isessential to a proper understanding of thecourse material. Finally, I am excited at theprospect of offering a Ph.D. degree inOctober 2017.

Study excursion to Nara (2015)

Message for StudentsAs a foreign scholar specializing in ancientJapanese history and the history of ideas, I
had never imagined that I would be teaching
topics closely related to my field of expertise
at a Japanese university. I think this showsthat if you find a field that fascinates you andyou are willing to put in some hard work, you
Advising my M.A. students (2014)
can do almost anything. You should not be
afraid to set your goals high and to pursue your dreams. As a single mother of two, Iwould also like to stress that it is possible to combine family life with a career inacademia.

A conference presentation slide (Berlin, 2012)1011