Abstract
This work presents chemistry studies of the Japanese scholar Udagawa Youan (1798-1846), specifically, his pioneering book Seimi Kaiso, introduction to Chemistry, and includes a short biography of Youan. The first aim of this work is to present Youan's contribution to Western chemistry in Japan. Youan studied many Western books and listed their authors. The new terms he invented for chemistry in Japanese influenced the development of chemistry writing and application in Japan. The seven books of Seimi Kaiso that were published during 1837-1847 and republished with annotation in Japanese in 1975 are discussed in this article. The impact of Youan' terminology on the history chemistry writing in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries is discussed. The conditions of knowledge transfer among Japanese and Western scholars were very different. Youan had severe difficulties facing the strict attitude of the Tokugawa authorities toward studying and distributing knowledge coming from foreign countries. The later development of Japanese chemistry language and studies is also described.
Highlights
Udagawa Youan studied the chemistry of the water in hot springs
From 1828, Udagawa started his chemical study of mineral springs from a wide area of Japan.”26 Osawa cites a summary of minerals found by Youan in Suwa, Shinshu in 1829 (Bunsei 11) as written in a draft kept at Osaka Takeda Science Foundation Library
For most of the words Youan combined two characters that should transfer the meaning of the Dutch term into Japanese
Summary
Four examples of Youan’s studies are presented: 1. Henry-Youan: Water chemical ingredients analysis. Udagawa Youan studied the chemistry of the water in hot springs. Siebold and Bürger probably brought them to Edo. from 1828, Udagawa started his chemical study of mineral springs from a wide area of Japan.” Osawa cites a summary of minerals found by Youan in Suwa, Shinshu (today Nagano prefecture) in 1829 (Bunsei 11) as written in a draft kept at Osaka Takeda Science Foundation Library. English translation is added by the current author (3) It shows Udagawa Youan inventions of various terms for chemistry tools and processes. For most of the words Youan combined two characters that should transfer the meaning of the Dutch term into Japanese. 元 grond meaning basis, 素 is equivalent to 物質 busshitsu, substance, matter, stof in Dutch.32 Youan used those terms for the first time in his botany book in 1834. Concerning Youan’s religion, Goodman concluded that “... despite all his remarkable credentials as a Rangakusha, Youan was, like his father and Otsuki Gentaku before him, a committed Confucian scholar, devoted first and foremost to the Classical Chinese intellectual heritage of Japan.” In light of the continuing surveillance the achievements of Udagawa Youan, and his colleagues, are even more impressive
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
