The Biohistory Research Hall is a forum (hall) where we examine,study what it means to be alive and express the processes and results of that work.
When thinking about what does it mean to be alive,we begin to recognize the great diversity and commonality in the living creatures around us. Life began with our first ancestor 3.8 billion years ago, which went on to give rise to all the myriad species of living things that through cycles of development, and complex ecological systems in turn. We can read the history of life within that story.
By giving exact and beautiful expression to the story of the history of life, we develop an appreciation for the fascinating appeal of living creatures, and sense of curiosity and wonder about life. By contemplating what it is to live and to be alive, we hope to contribute to the development of a society that treasures life.
What's Biohistory
A new form of knowledge that observes the livingness of many forms of life, including humans, and asks, "How shall we live?"
Biohistory looks at how life has evolved and diversified since the emergence of the first living organisms in the seas 3.8 billion years ago. All living creatures contain DNA (genomes), the history of which can be traced back to that ancient event, making DNA (and genomes) an enormous historical archive. By reading that history, we can learn more about life, humanity and nature, and harness that knowledge toward building our society.
The BRH worldview
We seek to develop knowledge and build society while maintaining awareness of the idea, "Just as I am an individual member of a greater society, we humans are a part of Nature."
Research gives rise to a worldview. Since the time of Galileo more than 300 years ago, society has adopted a fundamentally mechanistic basis and human technology has become further removed from the natural world. But research in recent years has revealed that all of nature (universe-earth-life) involves creation, giving rise to a biological worldview. In this conception, we humans use our brains, our hands, our capacity for language to build societies and live as humans. We exist both as members of one species of a diverse many carrying the heritage of development, evolution and ecology, and as human individuals, bearing our lives, history, and society. BRH is dedicated to creating knowledge from a worldview expressed as "I am a human being," and contributing thereby to building a better society.
Our activity
Biohistory is constantly thinking of ways to describe the activity of life in familiar Japanese terms. Love (me-zuru), relate (kakawaru), living (ikiru)... these words come to mind almost unbidden when we think about the nature of life. By observing living creatures and contemplating on life, we seek to give rise to new forms of knowledge and build a society that treasures life. Gently, quietly, steadily. We call on people from many fields and disciplines to join us in these endeavors.