English-Language Resources on East Asia

This guide is intended for students who are primarily relying on English-language materials for their research on East Asia. The basic reference tools are listed below. Click a link to proceed to guide on primary sources, statistical data, or secondary sources.

Reference Tools on East Asia

Britannica Online
A general encyclopedia, but includes basic information on East Asia.

Cambridge Encyclopedia of China
Call# DS705 C35X 1991+, Starr Main Reference Room
A major English-language encyclopedia on China.

Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan
A major encyclopedia on Japan; in English.

World Biographical Index
Includes over 70 thousand Chinese names and 86 thousand Japanese names. Provides a brief bio and citations to other sources. Search Chinese/Japanese names in romanized forms (see details here).

Ask a librarian for more subject-oriented resources or consult the guides to Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Resources.