About khirin

khirin is a historical information infrastructure developed by the National Museum of Japanese History, part of the National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU), with the aim of providing broad access to information on historical materials held both within the museum and by external institutions. Building on the museum’s long-standing work in digital humanities, khirin has been designed, developed, and made publicly available as a foundational platform supporting historical materials. In addition, based on agreements and memoranda of understanding with local governments, universities, and other organizations, khirin also publishes information on materials held outside the museum.

The current version of khirin has been developed as part of the MEXT Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A), “Establishing the Digital History.” It is designed not only as a platform for publishing materials, but also as an infrastructure that supports a wide range of historical research, including approaches that make use of AI and related technologies.

One of the key features of the new khirin is the integration of elements that were previously managed separately—such as Linked Data, IIIF, TEI, and various datasets—into a unified framework. Catalog information is enhanced with linking functionality and IIIF-based visualization, allowing users to access detailed resources such as TEI data via linked pages. The top page also provides access to datasets and experimental sites. In addition, previously distributed domains have been consolidated into a single URL, “khirin@rekihaku.ac.jp” ensuring a more consistent and coherent user experience. Advanced search functions are provided through a separate entry point, enabling flexible access tailored to different user needs.

In terms of data design, khirin emphasizes stability and long-term sustainability. Each item is assigned a persistent URL, and pages are implemented as static HTML to ensure reliable long-term access. Collection-level units are also assigned individual URLs, allowing for detailed descriptions, including provenance information. Where available, each item includes links to IIIF images, and in some cases, map-based information derived from geographic data. While retaining the Linked Data–oriented connectivity that characterized earlier versions of khirin, the system has been refined into a more practical and efficient architecture.

Another important feature is the inclusion of a dictionary function that supports data normalization and cross-referencing. This allows information sharing common elements—such as the same historical period or personal name—to be linked and explored across the database. Users can also search the entire system starting from entries in the dictionary, enabling access to historical information not only at the level of individual records but also as an interconnected body of knowledge. For data management, source data are maintained in Google Sheets and linked to the database, providing a flexible environment that facilitates updates and revisions.

In this way, khirin is not simply a system for publishing historical materials, but a platform designed to integrate, manage, and make accessible a wide range of historical information, while also supporting analysis and reuse. It is being developed as a resource not only for researchers but for a broad community of users, enabling access to historical knowledge and the creation of new insights.