Born February 28 1927, Paris. Died October 15 1996.
Education and professional career
- 1948 : Diploma in Japanese
- 1949 : Degree in Law and Literature
- 1951 : Diploma in Chinese from the École nationale des Langues Orientales vivantes
- 1951-1955 : Successively intern, attaché and research fellow at the CNRS
- 1954-1957 : Boarder at the Maison Franco-Japonaise in Tokyo
- 1954 : Graduate of the École Pratique des Hautes Études,Ve section
- 1959-1963 : Lecturer at the École Pratique des Hautes Études,Ve section
- 1965-1981 : Director of Studies (Japanese History and Philology) at the École Pratique des Hautes Études
- 1967-1970 : Lecturer at the Sorbonne
- 1970 : Doctor of Letters
- 1970-1971 : Lecturer at Paris University VII
- 1972-1974 : French Director of the Maison Franco-Japonaise in Tokyo
- 1976-1991 : Director of the research team associated with the CNRS : " Études japonaises"
- 1977-1979 : Lecturer at the University of Paris VII
- 1979-1996 : Professor at the Collège de France, Chair of Japanese Civilization
- 1982 : Honorary member of the Maison Franco-Japonaise de Tokyo
- 1983 : Associate Member of the Academy of Japan
- 1983 : Member of the Institute (Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres)
- 1992 : Co-director of the Unité de recherche associée n° 1069, " Civilisation japonaise "
- 1993 : Delegate of the Administrator of the Collège de France to the Instituts d'Extrême-Orient
Awards and distinctions
- Officer of the Legion of Honor
- Officer of the National Order of Merit
- Officer of the Order of Academic Palms
- Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres
- Grand Officer of the Order of the Sacred Treasure of Japan