Paper short abstract:

This paper investigates the seasonality of international trading activities in the port of Nagasaki during the eighteenth century. The navigation of sailing ships was subject to seasonal limitations, which also gave a verity of impacts on the lives of the people concerned with the Nagasaki trade.

Paper long abstract:

The Nagasaki trade in the Tokugawa period provides us an excellent case study of the relationships between human activities and natural conditions. In the eighteenth century, Dutch and Chinese ships called at Nagasaki for international trade. Dutch ships under the Dutch East India Company came from Batavia, present-day Jakarta, and Ayutthaya, while Chinese junks departed from several ports in the mainland of China and Southeast Asia. Proper winds were necessary for sailing ships in Asian waters. Monsoon was a crucial factor in ship navigation, and thus shipping and maritime trade had a seasonal rhythm.

This paper aims to investigate the seasonality of international trading activities in the port of Nagasaki during the eighteenth century. Without question, the navigation of sailing ships was subject to seasonal limitations, which also gave a verity of impacts on the lives of the people concerned with the Nagasaki trade. Which months were busy seasons with the stay of foreign ships at Nagasaki? What kind of preparations were necessary before the arrival of foreign ships?

First, this paper investigates that the quantitative data of the dates of arrival and departure of Dutch and Chinese ships in the port pf Nagasaki. Dutch ships stayed at the fixed dates in the summer according the regulation of the Japanese authorities. On the other hand, trade season with Chinese junks became converged to three seasons in a year in the course of the eighteenth century.

Second, the paper investigates the system of annual scheduling for international trade with the Dutch and Chinese merchants. It focuses on the process of trade such as unloading, sales and loading of commodities during the trading season, and also on the stocks of Japanese export items on the Japanese side as well as on the preparation of small boats in particular.

Paper short abstract:

A case study of a sea voyage along the Japanese Archipelago by a crew of fugitives in 1771. By cross-referencing various multilingual sources, several intercultural interactions were reconstructed to present multiple perspectives on these local events on the background of the global history.

Paper long abstract:

This paper presents a multilingual investigation into an extraordinary sea voyage along the Japanese Archipelago, performed by a crew of fugitives under the leadership of Maurice Benyowsky, who in the summer of 1771 managed to escape from exile in Kamchatka and while navigating to Macao described various cultures on the way. Unexpectedly these minor events of interaction resonated in various places and times in the global history, as well as in the unfolding literary legend of the crew leader.

　Perhaps it is characteristic for the maritime journey, that at times sea randomly brings various people together and therefore offers a challenge for the linguist/historian to refer to all of the available sources recorded in several languages, just to achieve little more complete picture. This event was usually perceived only from the perspective of Benyowsky's Memoirs and Travels - heavily embellished popular narrative, which alone makes an ambiguous source for the historical enquiry. Hence, in this research project, the narrative of the other crew members recorded in Russian and German, as well as the local Japanese reports were cross-referenced in order to reconstruct the events of interaction between the visitors and the local residents in the places of arrival. Furthermore, Benyowsky's French manuscript, his letters found in the Dutch Archives of Nagasaki, and his map recently discovered in Poland were examined as well.

　Even though this incidental navigation was unlike any future exploratory or diplomatic missions, it still provided European public with some interesting observations on the variety of cultures in the vicinity of Japan. Meanwhile, Benyowsky's obtrusive arrival was not without an impact on Japanese sense of security and understanding of its geopolitical situation. Through various prisms of interests and cultural differences these events were reinvented in the intellectual hubs of Europe or Japan. However, if we shift our focus back to the smaller picture and return voice back to the very characters who lived and experienced this little fragment of history, only then we can try to understand what does this event tell us about their life and the world they lived in.

Paper short abstract:

A significant number of documents related to the Ainu lands were found recently in Russian archives, both in Japanese and Russian languages. This presentation summarizes some evidences concerning Matsumae officials' view of early modern Japan's realm, its northern borders and foreign relations.

Paper long abstract:

A significant number of 18th century documents related to the Ainu lands were found recently in Russian archives, both in Japanese and Russian languages.

The first group of documents originates from Matsumae, which makes them unique since only a limited number of such sources are preserved in Japan. They include the earliest known original handwritten document issued by Matsumae officials to an Ainu chief in 1778, a notice of receipt of Russian gifts to Matsumae lord, name cards of Matsumae officials, and some others. The contents of these documents, titles of official posts, and even dates provide a new knowledge concerning the administrative history of Matsumae house and its view of early modern Japan's realm, its northern borders and foreign relations.

Another group contains numerous lists of personal Ainu names who inhabited northeastern Hokkaido and southern Kuril islands in late 18th century compiled by Russian pioneers. These lists provide inestimable data for both demographic history and linguistics of this distant region.

The third group is early modern Japanese printed books and manuscripts that spread from northern Japan directly to Russia, a route that differs from better-known one via Nagasaki and Europe.

This presentation will summarize a new knowledge coming from all these types of Japanese and Russian documents for better understanding of how early modern Japanese state acted on local level when faced with international problems.

Paper short abstract:

By focusing on the editorial process of Seichū Shinroku, a compilation of stories about the renowned loyalist Yuefei in the Song dynasty, this paper elucidates the strategies of the late Mito school to revive Chinese loyalism in Bakumatsu Japan.

Paper long abstract:

Previous studies on the late Mito school's connection with Chinese loyalism have focused on Seiki no Uta 正気の歌 (Song of Righteousness) written by Fujita Tōko. Due to the considerable influence Tōko's works had on the Sonnō Jōi movement, scholars of the late Mito school have usually been regarded as passionately engaged in radical political activities, rather than acting in a premeditated fashion.

This paper argues that, on the contrary, the late Mito school aimed to promote Chinese loyalism through a meticulous editorial process. Seichū Shinroku 精忠新録, a compilation of episodes from the life of Yuefei 岳飛, was organized by Toyoda Tenkō (1805-1864) with suggestions from Aoyama Nobumitsu and Fujita Tōko. Drawing upon the letters exchanged by these three figures, most of which are preserved in the Ibaraki Prefectural Archives and Museum, in this paper I will analyze two aspects of the editorial strategies of the late Mito school.

The first one is Toyoda's endeavors to examine the authenticity of historical sources. As it is often the case with renowned loyalists, Yuefei does not lack mysterious anecdotes. In order to present a convincing account to readers and advocate for loyalism, Toyoda is strategic about the materials to cite in Seichū Shinroku, selecting them mainly according to authenticity.

The second aspect is Fujita Tōko's suggestions of self-censorship. Yuefei is generally thought to have been executed at Emperor Gaozong's 高宗 false accusation. Toyoda fiercely criticizes Gaozong's mercilessness and poor judgment, but Fujita points out that such criticism may be perceived as a commentary on the lord of the Mito domain. Through close examination of Fujita's suggestions, this paper will demonstrate that Fujita is keenly aware of how different readers may react to Toyoda's commentaries.

Using the above materials and analyses, the aim of this paper is to reevaluate our comprehension of the scholars of the late Mito school. Although the promotion of Chinese loyalists did contribute to the Sonnō Jōi movement, which carried out notorious assassinations, these scholars insisted on strategic publishing activities in an unstable political atmosphere.