古代日本人是为学习中华文化而踏查中国，近代则是为侵略中国而窥探中国底里。东亚同文书院长达40余年的中国调查，是日本近代以来向外扩张、侵略的具体产物，通过考察东亚同文书院中国调查的历史行程、调查手段、方法以及海量的调查成果，揭示东亚同文书院中国调查服务于日本侵略中国的“国策”的基本性质，即以史鉴今，对日本军国主义的前世今生保持一份必要的警觉。同时，东亚同文书院的中国调查毕竟不同于纯粹的军事攻占和掠夺，其有着“学术研究”和“文化交流”的某些属性，加之调查活动的时间跨度长、人员众多、调查内容和形式繁复多变，有着多重的复杂面向，就如何做社会调查而言，不无启示之意义。
The ancient Japanese were investigating China for the study of Chinese culture，while the modern times spying on China for aggression against China.The 40-year investigation on China by the East Asian Tong Wen College is a concrete product of Japan's outward expansion and aggression in modern times.By examining the historical itinerary，survey methods，methods，and massive survey results of the investigation on China of the East Asian Tong Wen College，it reveals the basic nature of the“national policy” of the East Asian Tong Wen College's investigation on China serving Japan's invasion of China，which enlightens us to keep a necessary vigilance against the past and present of Japanese militarism.At the same time，the investigation on China of the East Asian Tong Wen College is different from pure military capture and plunder，which has certain attributes of“academic research” and“cultural exchange”.In addition，the investigation activities have a long time span，a large number of personnel，and the content and form of the investigation are complex and varied.There are multiple complex aspects giving inspiration for how to do social investigation.
