Paper short abstract:

This study examines how the western diplomats, scholars and merchants created networks in Asia and developed Asian studies by focusing on their works among their own communities and institutions, such as “Royal Asiatic Society” and “The Asiatic Society of Japan” from the middle of the 19th century.

Paper long abstract:

Asian studies, such as Japanology, Sinology and Koreanology, developed alongside the expansion of imperialism by the western countries after the middle of the 19th century. Diplomats, scholars and merchants, who were sent from Europe and the United States to the Asian countries, played a prominent roles in establishing these studies not only after they returned to their countries, but during their residence in Asia. This study examines how these Japanologists or Sinologists created networks in Asia and developed Asian studies by focusing on the work they carried out among their own communities. One of the oldest and the most influential institutions for Asian studies is “Royal Asiatic Society”, which was established in London in 1823. However, western Japanologists within Japan were keen to establish their own institution, which was “The Asiatic Society of Japan” founded in 1872. The Japanese government too came to realize the importance of Asian studies for its own foreign policy and therefore paid attention to the activities of these institutions both in Japan and Europe. This paper reveals how the western diplomats or scholars undertook Asian studies through the branches of the Royal Asiatic Society in Asia and the institutions they created in their residence countries. It also examines how these European and Asian institutions were interactive and contributed to the development of Asian studies.