Mitsukuri Shōgo (箕作省吾)
Mitsukuri Shōgo (箕作省吾; 1821 - January 29, 1847) was a Japanese geographer of the late Edo / Tokugawa period. He was born into the family of a retainer of the Rusu Clan in Sendai Domain and his birth name was Sasaki Hiroshi. Mitsukuri was strongly influenced by the foreign influences present in Sendai at the time, studying Dutch Learning (Rangaku, i.e. Western Learning) and Chinese classics. Mitsukuri later continued his studies in Kyoto and Edo, focusing on Dutch Learning. During his travels, he also studied the customs, cultures, and topography of different parts of Japan. In Edo, he became a disciple of Mitsukuri Genpo (1799 - 1863), one of the leading Rangaku scholars of the time, from whom he took his name (he also married Mitsukuri Genpo's daughter). In addition to an influential 1844 world map (based on an 1835 French original), Mitsukuri also published books on geography and on 'Western affairs' that were influential on diplomats of the late Tokugawa period, as Japan desperately tried to adjust to a dangerous international environment.
AKA: 箕作省吾
One of the Most Influential Japanese Maps of the 19th Century. / Japanese recognition of the Sea of Korea.
新製輿地全圖 / [Newly-Made Complete Map of the World].
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- File Size: 30.62 MB
- File Type: ZIP / TIFF
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This is a fascinating 1844 Mitsukuri Shōgo double-hemisphere world map with descriptive text. Based on a somewhat earlier French map, it is important in the migration of Western geographic knowledge to Japan, even in the years before Japan was 'forced open' by American warships, hastening the end of its period of isolation. It is also unusual as one of the very few Japanese maps to recognize the 'Sea of Korea' toponym. (more details)