MS Japanese 92

A woodblock printed account of Dutch medical practices dictated by Ōtsuki Gentaku (1757-1827) and written down by Arima Genchō, a doctor from Fukuchiyama. It takes the form of questions and answers, some of them very basic: the first asks how the Dutch write the word ‘Oranda’ (the Japanese term for Holland) and the answer points out that the Dutch do not use Chinese characters. This book therefore seems to be answering a need for basic information stimulated by the growing popularization of Rangaku in the late 18th century. Included are illustrations showing Dutch men and women clothed and unclothed, a bottle and cutlery, and amongst the topics covered are wine, glass, bread, balsam and ostriches. This copy lacks the second volume, but the two volumes were published in 1799.

Japan, 1799

Material: paper; 1冊 | 1 volume; binding dimensions: height 185mm, width 125mm