Kaempfer’s History of Japan

Kaempfer’s History of Japan Student’s Name University Affiliation Kaempfer’s History of Japan Engelbert Kaempfer was a physician, explorer and a writer of German origin known for having travelled many places in the world during the period of 1683 to 1693.Of all the places he toured, Japan remains a country that he seemed to have developed much interest. This is illustrated by his descriptions in Japan Today (1727) which consists of detailed account of Japanese politics, religion and social system as well as its flora and fauna. Kaempfer’s History of Japan brings to fore his attitudes towards Japanese and the latter’s attitudes towards the Dutch. This research will discuss what Kaempfer a description in Japan Today (1727) reveals about his attitudes to the Japanese, Japanese attitudes to the Dutch, both in general and more specifically relating to Dutch knowledge and why Kaempfer was a reliable source and authority to that effect. Exceedingly Suspicious Nation Even though Kaempfer described Japan as a peaceful and civilized nation, there is one thing that he found appalling and equally interesting about the country. He described it in his own words as “exceedingly suspicious nation” (Kaempfer, 1999). This is with regards to Japanese relations with the Dutch. According to him, the Japanese who were assigned to attend to their affairs in Deshima, especially the licensed interpreters were all bound by solemn oath not to have a discourse with them (Yi-Yung, 1989). Japanese were not allowed to discourse with the Dutch simply because the authorities thought that would reveal the secrets of the country. This is fortified by the fact that even the licensed interpreters were tied down to betray another. Interpreters were their own colleagues’ watchmen all done in the interest of the country. In fact, no Japanese who appeared friendly to the Dutch was looked upon as an honest man. However the Dutch were very resilient people who would stop at nothing just to get what they had set their eyes on and put their mind to. This can be seen where they became subservient to the Japanese to earn their trust and have ample time for living and trade with these exceedingly suspicious people. Kaemper notes that “the Dutch showed the utmost subservience in everything, even wrongful imposition to stay in the good books of this nation and conduct profitable trade” (Kaempfer, 1999, 187). This not only demonstrated the good attitude that the Dutch had towards the Japanese but their determination to exploit the resources of the empire. Cruelty, Envy and Intolerance It would appear that Kaempfer was quick to judge Japanese as well behaved people with good manners when the so praised Japanese turned against the Dutch. This is evident in Kaempfer’s History where things started going south for the Dutch. Things changed for them after being used by the empire to destroy Christians (Kaempfer, 1999). It is during this period that the real attitudes of the Japanese towards the Dutch became manifest as Kaemper notes. The Japanese were cruel and intolerant toward the Dutch. They treated Dutch with cruelty and the highest level of intolerance. As Kaempfer notes, the Dutch were tol...