Gotō, Rishun, 1696-1771
Person
Dates
- Existence: 1696 (date of birth) - 1771 (date of death) - 1771
Biography
Rishun Gotō was born in Japan in 1696 and is best known for his work as a botanist and Rangaku (Dutch Study) scholar. He gained significant notoriety for his 1765 book Oranda-banashi, which was banned in Japan because it included the Latin alphabet and other Western concepts. Oranda-banashi is loosely translated as "Tales of Holland" or "Essay on Holland." Gotō based his book on conversations he had with Dutch traders in Nagasaki.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Manuscript Copy of _Oranda-banashi_ (Tales of Holland)
Collection — Box 01: [Barcode: 5000009519]
Identifier: MS-0237
Scope and Contents
Rishun Gotō wrote _Oranda-banashi_ (Tales of Holland) in 1765. This manuscript is a copy of Gotō's book that was created by an unknown author circa 1803. _Oranda-banashi_ was banned by the Japanese government because it included the Latin alphabet and other Western ideas. The book's banning prompted a black market for copies such as this one.Topics in the manuscript include Western geography, customs, and languages, as well as scientific and medical technology. Of particular...
Dates:
Circa 1803
