Philipp Franz von Siebold and the opening of Japan : a re-evaluation / Herbert Plutschow.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Plutschow, Herbert E., 1939-2010.

Series:

Brill eBook titles 2010

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Siebold, Philipp Franz von, 1796-1866.

Siebold, Philipp Franz von.

Japan--History--1787-1868.

Japan.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (240 p.)

Place of Publication:

Folkestone [England] : Global Oriental, 2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Based on new documents, especially von Siebold’s correspondence (including letters to his wife Taki), written advice and draft treaties which were placed in the public domain in 2002 by the Brandenstein-Zeppelin family, the author argues that such is their significance a full re-evaluation of von Siebold’s advisory role vis a vis the United States, Russia and the Netherlands in particular, both before and after the successful opening of Japan in the 1850's is now justified. This new study challenges the conventional Western scholarly view that the key figures involved in the opening of Japan were confined to the US Navy’s Commodore Matthew Perry, and the diplomats Townsend Harris of the US and Rutherford Alcock of the UK. A close examination of the new sources suggests otherwise and also puts von Siebold’s agenda to ‘save’ Japan from being overtaken by what he referred to as the colonial and commercial ambitions of the West’s great maritime nations in a new light. The author also takes pains to debunk the long-held view that von Siebold was a Russian spy. Even so, it is accepted that von Siebold remains a controversial figure whose role was more often than not ‘tinged with considerable selfish aspirations and a belief in his personal infallibility’.

Contents:

Preliminary Material / H. Plutschow

1. Von Siebold’s First Journey To Japan (1823–29) / H. Plutschow

2. Von Siebold The Scholar / H. Plutschow

3. Von Siebold And The Opening Of Japan / H. Plutschow

4. Von Siebold’s Second Journey To Japan / H. Plutschow

5. Back In Europe / H. Plutschow

6. The Second Generation Siebolds And The Opening Of Japan / H. Plutschow

Conclusions / H. Plutschow

Bibliography / H. Plutschow

Appendix / H. Plutschow

Index / H. Plutschow.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-282-08905-6

9786612089053

90-04-21349-X

OCLC:

753480470