UBC LIBRARY BLOGGERS

This week’s blog post explores the fascinating world of Japanese travel during the Tokugawa period (1603 – 1868), both within Japan and beyond its borders. All materials shown in this blog post are from our Japanese Maps of the Tokugawa Era Collection which is available through Open Collection.

1. Seiyū ryotan (西遊旅譚) [A Diary of Travel from Edo to Nagasaki] – 1794

One notable work featured in this collection is the Seiyū ryotan, which was created by Shiba Kōkan (司馬 江漢, 1738?-1818), a prominent figure in Japanese art history. Shiba, a celebrated painter and printmaker during the Tokugawa period, was renowned for his Western-style Yōga (洋画) paintings, which drew inspiration from Dutch oil painting techniques and themes. Seiyū ryotan is a compilation of travel narratives accompanied by sketches of landscapes and people. Look at how Shiba captures people dancing in a circle and the beauty of Mount Fuji!

Illustrations of people dancing and singing in Seishū (勢州), which is another name for Ise Province (伊勢国)

Illustration of Mount Fuji

Illustrations of Osaka

2. Amerika shinwa (亜墨新話) [New Stories about America] – 1844

Another intriguing manuscript within this Collection is the Amerika shinwa, which offers a unique perspective into Japan’s encounter with the American continent during the mid-19th century. It is essentially a work of Hyōryūki, which is the Japanese term for narratives about being cast away as a result of a shipwreck. Amerika shinwa was compiled under the order of the Daimyo of Awa province. It narrates the tale of Hatsutarō’s voyage, which began in Japan in October 1841. It details his shipwreck in February 1842, subsequent rescue by a Spanish ship, arrival in Lower California and Mexico, and eventual journey back to Canton (Guangzhou or China).

Illustration of Macau, Guangdong

Illustration of a wedding ceremony

3. Kaigai shinwa (海外新話) [Story from Overseas] – 1849

Kaigai shinwa is a 5-volume text that demonstrates Japan’s understanding of western power and dominance, along with their insight into the first Opium War in China (1839-1842).

Illustration of an English Commander

The Sakoku “closed country” (鎖国) policy at the time effectively barred Japanese observers from being in China to witness the Opium War firsthand. Consequently, it greatly affected how Japanese learnt about the War and their understanding was significantly shaped by this isolation. For Kaigai shinwa, rather than a straightforward historical retelling, it is a narrative that blends historical events with elements added for storytelling impact to attract a broader audience. Some of these additions were likely introduced by the author, Mineta, Fūkō (1817-83) in order to enrich the narrative, while others may have been borrowed from other sources. In other words, Kaigai shinwa presents a mix of factual information alongside instances of misinformation and fabrication.

The book opens with a poem urging Japanese to view the Chinese defeat in the Opium War against Great Britain as a warning of potential future events in Japan.

Illustrations of English naval ships

While Kaigai Shinwa gained popularity among intellectuals at the time, it faced strong opposition from Shogunate officials. In fact, Kaigai shinwa was eventually banned by the Shogunate. Its author, Mineta, was subsequently imprisoned on charges of publishing the work without obtaining official consent and inspection.

We hope you enjoy this little dive into the rich and diverse narratives found within the Japanese Maps of the Tokugawa Era Collection. Each manuscript offers a unique glimpse into Japan’s historical encounters and perspectives on the broader world during the Tokugawa period.

Thank you for reading!

Works cited:

Escalona Echániz, J. M. (2022). An analysis of Amerika shinwa : manuscript circulation and epistemological background in early modern Japan. University of British Columbia. https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0418460.

Google Arts and Culture. (n.d.). Shiba Kōkan. https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/shiba-k%C5%8Dkan/m02747qd?hl=en.

Dower, J. W. (2010). The opium war in Japanese eyes : an illustrated 1849 “Story from Overseas” Essay by John W. Dower. MIT Visualizing Cultures. https://visualizingcultures.mit.edu/opium_wars_japan/kaigai_shinwa.pdf.

Wataru, M. (2000). Japan and China: Mutual Representations in the Modern Era (J.A. Fogel, Ed.; J.A. Fogel, Trans.; 1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315027685.