Isaac Titsingh’s insiders guide to 18th century Japan
Jul 12th, 2018 by bachmann
Isaac Titsingh (1745-1812), a senior official of the Dutch East India Company, had exclusive contact with Japanese officials during his time in Dejima from 1779-1784. Dejima was the artificially constructed island at Nagasaki used as the sole trading post with the Dutch. Titsingh had diverse interests and was considered a scholar and philosopher, in addition to his capacity as a merchant and ambassador. He was intrigued and fascinated with Japanese culture, history, and tradition. During his stay in Japan, he documented and collected information, seeking original sources whenever possible. Titsingh was relatively persuasive and successful at negotiating access to Japan mainland, witnessing places and events that no European had before. He did not want to compile a mere travel account of his time in Japan, but aspired to create a publication in multiple European languages that would illustrate the sophistication of the Japanese people and their unique culture. Titsingh wished to have his book published in three European languages that he deemed important: Dutch (the language of trade and commerce), French (the language of philosophy), and English (the language of natural and modern sciences). Unfortunately, due to political conflicts and commercial turbulence, he was unable to achieve his goal. His collection was not published until after his death, with the support of two of his friends.
The place where the Dutch reside is called Desima, that is, the Advanced Island, or the island situated before the town. The Japanese sometimes call it Desima mats, or Desmia-street, because it is reckoned among the streets of Kangasaki, and is subject to the same regulations. It is not far from the city, and has been artificially formed in the sea, which hereabout is full of rocks and sandbanks, and very shallow. The foundations, to the height of a fathom and a half or two fathoms, are of hewn stone, and at flood tide are about half a fathom above the surface of the water. In figure it nearly resembles a fan without a handle…It is usually reckoned that the area of our island is equal to that of a stadium, being six hundred feet in length and two hundred and forty in breadth. One wide street runs the whole lenp-th of the island : there is also a path all round it, along the deal fence by which it is encircled. This path may be closed if necessary. The water from the gutters runs off into the sea by means of narrow curved pipes, made so on purpose, lest any thing should be smuggled away from the island.
On the 28th of the 6th month of the third year Ten-mio (July 27 1783), at eight o’clock in the morning, there arose in the province of Sinano a very strong east wind, accompanied with a dull noise like that of an earthquake, which increased daily, and foreboded the most disastrous consequences. On the 4th of the seventh month (August 1st.), there was a tremendous noise and a shock of an earthquake ; the walls of the houses cracked and seemed ready to tumble ;each successive shock was more violent, till the flames burst forth, with a terrific uproar from the summit of the mountain, followed by a tremendous eruption of sand and stones : though it was broad day, every thing was enveloped in profound darkness, through which the flames alone threw at times a lurid light. Till the 4th of August the mountain never ceased to cast up sand and stones….
As soon as the hymn is finished, the women, the colleagues of the deceased, and his acquaintance, return home, and are complimented at the door of the temple by the relatives, who wait there for the purpose. After their departure the relatives proceed in haste to the grave, where, in the interim, a priest reads some hymns till their arrival. The moment they are come, the tub containing the body is taken out of the quan, and deposited in the grave, which is then filled with earth, and covered with a flat stone, and this is again covered with earth. Over the whole is placed the quan, which is removed at the expiration of seven weeks, to make room for the sisek or tombstone, which is prepared in the mean time.
When the near kinsfolk on each side have contracted mutual relationship, the fikiwatasi is brought. The father of the bride then presents a mounted sabre, called fiki-demono. It is placed on a tray which stands lower than the others, before the bride’s father. In presenting and accepting this sabre, and the list called tatsi-ori-kami, there is a particular ceremony to be observed. The bride’s father, when he takes the sabre on the tray, advances into the middle of the apartment ; the bridegroom does the same to receive it. Among people of quality this presentation and accepting of the sabre, are circumstances of the highest importance : but among the lower classes they are attended with little ceremony.
- Description:
- Titsingh, Isaac 1744-1812 author. Illustrations of Japan consisting of private memoirs and anecdotes of the reigning dynasty of the Djogouns, or sovereigns of Japan : a description of the feasts and ceremonies observed throughout the year at their court : and of the ceremonies customary at marriages and funerals: to which are subjoined, observations on the legal suicide of the Japanese, remarks on their poetry, an explanation of their mode of reckoning time, particulars respecting the dosia powder, the preface of a work by confoutzee on filial piety, &c. &c. London :: Printed for R. Ackermann, 1822.
- Persistent Link:
- http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:29293162
- Repository:
- Widener Library
- Institution:
- Harvard University