History of Asia

The influence of Dutch studies on the Edo period

As a result of the isolation policy of the Edo period, only the Netherlands was allowed to trade with Japan among the Western countries, and Western studies were accepted through the Dutch and Dutch. At that time, the Netherlands was Aranda Because it was written, this study was [ Dutch studies ] Will be called.

The 8th Shogun, Yoshimune Tokugawa , who relaxed the ban on foreign books Is Aoki Konyō and Noro Genjo Ordered to learn Dutch, and as a result [ Japanese translation ] And [ Japanese orchid abbreviation I will leave a Dutch dictionary that says.

[ Beginning of Dutch studies ], Genpaku Sugita, Ryotaku Maeno By [ Dismantling New Book ] Translation and publication has begun to translate full-scale Dutch books.

This time, it was introduced in the Edo period and was indispensable for the modernization of Japan [ Dutch studies ] I would like to write about the influence and contents.

Field of Dutch Studies

Western studies introduced from the Netherlands to Japan [ Dutch studies 】Is called.

When I hear Dutch studies, I think that the image of medicine is strong, probably because of the influence of dramas, but basically the Western studies that were introduced to Japan are called Dutch studies, so the scope is wide-ranging.

The fields of Dutch studies can be broadly divided into the following four categories.

Four areas of Dutch studies
  1. Language …… Dutch
  2. Natural science …… Medicine, astronomy, physics, chemistry, etc.
  3. Humanities …… Western history, world geography, foreign affairs, etc.
  4. Other technologies …… Surveying, artillery, iron making, etc.

The leaders of Dutch studies were mainly doctors, except for Nagasaki, who was strong in Dutch.

Therefore, the center of learning is natural science field centered on medicine. was. However, when the Qing dynasty was defeated in the Opium War, the politicians began to feel the need for armament reform, and Dutch studies changed from medical science to military science . The center begins to shift to.

The founding period of Dutch studies was the era of Yoshimune Tokugawa

The buds of Dutch studies date back to the time of the 8th Shogun Yoshimune.

The Shogunate will limit trade to China and the Netherlands, which have nothing to do with Christianity, under the isolation policy. The window for trade was also limited to Dejima in Nagasaki and was conducted under strict supervision. Among the traded goods is a Dutch book, through which the Japanese can study Western studies [ Dutch studies . ] Will be learned.

Yoshimune Tokugawa was interested in overseas products in order to boost domestic industry and improve productivity. As part of that, 1720 In addition, banned decree And allowed the import of books not related to Christianity.

Among many books, Yoshimune was 1659 . Kusagi Magazine by Dodneus And 1663 Animal Illustrated by John Jonston I was interested in. However, there was no one at the time to translate this book. So Yoshimune Aoki Konyō and Noro Genjo Ordered the translation.

With these two books as a starting point, Dutch studies will spread and accelerate the modernization of Japan.

Rapid development of medicine through Dutch studies

Due to Yoshimune's curiosity, it became possible to translate Dutch books, so 1771 Genpaku Sugita, Ryotaku Maeno, Jun'an Nakagawa, Katsuragawa Hoshu Started translating the human anatomy book written by Kulms.

And 1774 In the translation of "Tahel Anatomia", the first Western anatomy book in Japan " Kaitai Shinsho Was published. This is Japan's first translation of a foreign medical book, and it has become a catalyst for spreading Dutch studies in Japan.

It is a great breakthrough for Japanese medicine, and Dutch studies will be further developed by this.

The spread of Dutch studies and the translation of the encyclopedia

Dutch studies did not fit in Edo, but spread to regions such as Kyoto and Osaka.

Private scholars and doctors of each clan studied Dutch studies.

With the spread of Dutch studies all over Japan at once, it became an official academic discipline of the Shogunate, 1811 . A department was set up to translate Western books. There, Gentaku Otsuki, Sajuro Baba Two of them were appointed as translators and started translating the entire encyclopedia written by Shomel.

At the same time, the Dutch interpreter in Nagasaki and Douf, the director of the Dutch trading house, translated the Dutch-French bilingual dictionary into Japanese and completed the Dutch-Japanese dictionary.

As a result, Dutch studies have entered a new stage, but as relations with foreign countries in the late Tokugawa period have become more complicated, research on foreign languages ​​other than Dutch, such as English and Russian, has begun. , Dutch studies will soon be [ Western studies ] Has come to be called.

Occurrence of the Siebold Incident

The influence of the doctors at the Dutch trading house, who actively communicated Western scholarship and techniques, on Japan was enormous. Among them, Siebold, who came to Japan in 1823, left a great influence on Japanese Dutch scholars and the shogunate.

Siebold is " Japan And " Japanese Botanical Magazine , Etc., he actively introduced the country of Japan to Europe, and had many students in Japan as well. However, September 1828 When Siebold returned to Japan, many things that were prohibited from being taken out of the country, such as the Japanese map created by Ino Tadataka, came out of his luggage.

This deported Siebold and punished many of his students.

This series of incidents is Siebold Incident With this as a trigger, the shogunate began cracking down on Dutch scholars.

Repression of Dutch scholars by the Shogunate [Bansha no Goku]

In 1839, Takano Choei and Watanabe Kazan criticized the Edo Shogunate's isolation policy, and the shogunate was arrested. Bansha no Goku Happened.

The Shogunate arrested Huashan and others for their plans to travel to an uninhabited island, but it turned out to be innocent, but Choei and Huashan were punished for criticizing the Shogunate's response to the Morrison incident. rice field.

The crackdown on Dutch studies and Dutch scholars gave a glimpse of the conservative and open-country conflicts within the Shogunate.

From Dutch studies to English studies

Western scholarship developed by Dutch studies was also useful for negotiations with other countries, but as the times progressed, it began to negotiate directly with other countries. Unlike isolated countries, Dutch studies have changed from studying natural sciences to [ national defense because they have become more involved with other countries. ] Will be researched as an academic discipline.

As the conflict between the seclusion and the opening of the country intensified at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, Dutch studies were the study of the opening. However, in reality, the shogunate used it to enhance the armaments of the country and the clan.

However, as public opinion leans toward the open sect, foreign languages ​​are transmitted beyond the Netherlands, especially English. And when the country was opened, Western culture actively entered Japan.

For a while after the opening of the country, Dutch studies were the main study, but gradually English studies [ English studies ] Becomes popular, and Dutch studies weaken their influence.

Major Dutch scholars and Dutch school

From the Edo period to the early Meiji era, Dutch studies convey the culture, scholarship, and techniques of Western countries, but I tried to summarize the Dutch studies school with the representative Dutch scholars who learned them.

Genpaku Sugita [Tenshinro]

Genpaku Sugita is a Dutch scholar, Ryotaku Maeno, Jun'an Nakagawa Translated the Dutch human anatomy book "Tahel Anatomia" with them, " Dismantling New Book 』Published as. Also, although it is unknown when he opened the school, he opened a private school "Tenshinro" and taught Dutch studies to many students.

Gentaku Otsuki "Shirando"

Genpaku Sugita and Ryotaku Maeno Gentaku Otsuki, a disciple of Gentaku Otsuki, opened "Shirando" in Edo around 1788 and worked hard to train many students. He also wrote an introductory book on Dutch studies, "Rangaku Kaitei," which confirmed his position as a Dutch scholar.

Siebold "Narutaki Juku"

The Narutaki Juku, which was opened by German doctor Siebold in Nagasaki in 1824, also had many students and was taught Dutch studies.

Koan Ogata "Tekijuku"

Koan Ogata is known as the ancestor of modern Japanese medicine. Tekijuku, which was held in Osaka in 1838, brought out many excellent human resources from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji Restoration. In addition, "Tekijuku" is the current Osaka University / Keio University It is also known as one of the sources of.