1914年，郭沫若留学日本，其早期论著透露出自由独创思想和泛神论影响下的历史观。1924年，郭沫若在生计和个人思想等主客观因素影响下再次赴日，在翻译河上肇《社会组织与社会革命》的过程中，接受了唯物史观。1928年，郭沫若流亡日本，在同后期创造社的理论争鸣、田中庆太郎的帮助、东洋文库的古文字资料、“尧舜禹抹杀论”的间接影响下，完成了《中国古代社会研究》。通过三次赴日经历，郭沫若对唯物史观的理解不断加深，对唯物史观的运用也从理论探索落实到具体的史学研究，进而开辟了中国史学研究的一条新路。

In 1914, Guo Moruo studied in Japan, and his early writings revealed his view of history under the influence of free original thought and pantheism. In 1924, Guo Moruo went to Japan again under the influence of objective and subjective factors such as livelihood and personal thought. And Guo Moruo accepted historical materialism in the process of translating Social Organization and Social Revolution by Kawakami Hajime. In 1928, Guo Moruo went into exile in Japan and completed Study on Chinese Ancient Society under the theoretical disputes with the late Creation Society, the help of Tanaka Keitaro, the Paleographic materials of the Toyo Bunko, and the indirect influence of “Erasing Yao-Shun-Yu”. Through his three visits to Japan, Guo Moruo's understanding of historical materialism continuously deepened, and his application of historical materialism had also been implemented from theoretical exploration to specific historical research, thus opening up a new path for the study of Chinese history.