Paper short abstract:

This paper looks at the reception of the Bencao Gangmu in 17th century Japan. By doing so, I hope to show that its early influence relied mostly on its lexicological and illustrative aspects rather than on the application of its classification and worldview to the local flora and fauna.

Paper long abstract:

When reflecting upon the construction of an image of the natural world in early modern Japan, one cannot overlook the importance of Li Shizhen (1518-1593)'s masterwork, the Bencao Gangmu, or Classified Materia Medica (1596). Its value resides not only in the synthesis it provides regarding material used to fabricate remedies, but also in its scope that clearly exceeds the classical boundaries of bencao, leaning instead toward a form of natural history inspired by the "investigation of things", gewu zhizhi. It combines a lexicological approach, aimed at establishing the 'correct names' for its entries, with a new classification system for the entries, based on a hierarchical worldview, and with pictures for most entries, including beasts and minerals and not only herbs and plants.

The influence of the Bencao Gangmu on Japanese natural history has often been stressed out, mostly through the study of its local editions, partial translations, adaptation by Confucian scholars and physicians of the late 17th and early 18th century, such as Kaibara Ekiken, Inô Jakusui, or Ono Ranzan.

However, the early reception of Li's work has comparatively received little attention, aside from a few studies on Hayashi Razan's parallel glossary, Tashikihen. In this paper I will try to look at how it was used in different kinds of books, from lists of Japanese edible products such as Yamaoka Genrin's Shokumotsu waka honzô zôho (1667), to illustrated commentaries of technical texts, like the illustrated Hoki, Hokizu of 1667, as well illustrated vocabularies such as the famous Kinmôzui (1666), and subsequent works like the Nanji kinmôzui (1687). By doing so, I hope to show that the early influence of the Bencao, at least outside of its medical application, relied mostly on its lexicological and illustrative aspects, used to identify and legitimize Japanese textual tradition, rather than on the application of its classification and worldview to develop a functional knowledge of the local flora and fauna.