# The History of Japan (Kaempfer)/Volume 1

The
History of Japan,
Giving
An Account of the ancient and preſent State and Government of that Empire;
of
Its Temples, Palaces, Caſtles and other Buildings;
of
Its Metals, Minerals, Trees, Plants, Animals, Birds and Fiſhes;
of
The Chronology and Succeſſion of the Emperors, Eccleſiaſtical and Secular;
of
The Original Deſcent, Religions, Cuſtoms, and Manufactures of the Natives, and of their Trade and Commerce with the Dutch and Chineſe.
Together with a Deſcription of the Kingdom of Siam.
J. G. Scheuchzer, F. R. S. and a Member of the College of Phyſicians, London.
With the Life of the Author, and an Introduction.
Illustrated with many Copper Plates.
Volume I.
London:
Printed for the Translator, MDCCXXVII.
April 27. 1727.
Imprimatur,
Hans Sloane, Præs. Soc. Reg.
To the King.
May it pleaſe Your Majesty,
our Majesties gracious Condeſcenſion to approve of my Deſign of publiſhing this Hiſtory of Japan emboldens me, with the moſt profound Reſpect and Humility to lay it at Your Majesties Feet.
​It gives an Account of a mighty and powerful Empire, which owes its Greatneſs to itſelf, and the flouriſhing Condition it is in, to its being debarr’d all Communication with other Nations: It unfolds the Rules and Maxims of a Government, where the mutual checks, jealouſies and miſtruſts of Perſsons inveſted with Power are thought the moſt effectual Means to oblige them to a faithful diſcharge of their reſpective Duties: It ſhews a long Series of Eccleſiaſtical Emperors, all deſcended of one Family, who ſway’d the Scepter of Japan for upwards of two thouſand Years, and ſtill keep up their Titles, Rank and Grandeur, tho’ diſpoſſeſs’d of the ſupreme Power by the Secular Monarchs: It deſcribes a valiant and invincible Nation, a polite, induſtrious and virtuous People, enrich’d by a mutual Commerce among themſelves, and poſſeſs’d of a Country, on which Nature hath laviſh’d her moſt valuable Treaſures.
Theſe, and many other remarkable particulars, relating to the Religions, Sects, and Natural Hiſtory of a County, of which we had hitherto but an imperfect Knowledge, give me ſome hope, that ​this Work will not prove unworthy of Your Majesties gracious Protection.
That Your Majesties Reign may be long and proſperous, and that there may never be wanted a Succeſſion of Princes of Your Royal Line to Grace the Britiſh Throne, are the hearty and ſincere Wiſhes of
May it pleaſe Your Majesty,
Your Majesties
Moſt Obedient,
Moſt Devoted
And
Moſt humble Servant
J. G. Scheuchzer.
The
Names of the Subſcribers.
Thoſe, who have this Mark * prefix’d to their Names, ſubſcrib’d for the Large Paper.
A
His Grace Hugh, Lord Archbiſhop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland. Joſeph Andrews, Eſq; F. R. S. Mr. Henry l’ Apoſtre. Col. Archer. —— Archer, Eſq;
B
* The Right Honourable Charles Lord Bruce.
* Montague Bacon, Eſq;
* George Baily, Eſq;
* Robert Baylis, Eſq; Alderman.
* Mr. Sylvanus Bevan, F. R. S. Two Sets.
* ——— Billerbeck, Eſq;
* * The Honourable Pattee Bing, Eſq;
* John Birkhead of Lincoln’s-Inn, Eſq;
* Col. Martin Bladen.
* * ——— Bonnel, Eſq;
* Ralph Boutchier, M. D.
* Sir Brook Bridges, Bart. F. R. S.
* * John Brown, Eſq.
* Mr. John Brown, F. R. S.
* John Burrard, Eſq;
* Mr. Paul Buſſiere.
C
* His Grace William, Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury.
* * The Right Honourable John Lord Carteret.
* The Right Honourable Charles Lord Cadogan.
* Thomas Cartwright of Aynhoe, Eſq;
* The Rev. Dr. George Carter.
* W. Cheſelden, Surgeon, F. R. S.
* Richard Chiſwell, Eſq;
* George Clifford, Jun. Eſq;
* Francis Clifton, M. D.
* Anthony Collins, Eſq; Two Copies.
* Sir Thomas Coke, Knight of the Bath.
* Mr. Daniel Crellius.
* Thomas Crowe, M. D.
D
* His Grace William Duke of Devonshire.
* The Right Reverend Richard, Lord Biſhop of St. David’s.
* Gebhard Danteny Eſq; F. R. S. Two Copies,
* John Jacob Dillenius, M. D. F. R. S.
* John Diodate, M. D. F. R. S.
* James Douglas, M. D. F. R. S.
* Gerard Drake, Eſq;
E
* Richard Ellis, Eſq;
* Nathaniel Ellwick, Eſq;
* ——— Eyles, Eſq;
* Kingſmill Eyre, Eſq; F. R. S.
F
* The Right Honourable the Lady Mary Fielding.
* Everard Fawkener, Eſq;
* Charles de la Faye, Eſq; F. R. S.
* Martin Folkes, Eſq; F. R. S.
* Thomas Fothergill, Eſq;
* Sir Richard Fowler, Bart.
* John Freeman, Eſq.
* * John Friend, M. D. F. R. S.
* John Fuller, Eſq; F. R. S.
G
* The Right Honourable the Earl Grandisson.
* Roger Gale, Eſq; F. R. S.
* Patrick Garden of Lincoln’s-Inn, Eſq;
* Mr. Ambroſe Godfrey, Chymiſt.
* Mr. Edmund Godfrey.
* The Rev. Dr. Gooch, Maſter of Gonvil and Cajus College in Cambridge.
* Mr. George Graham, F. R. S.
* Mr. Stephen Grainger, Merchant at Stockholm.
* * Thomas Green, Eſq;
* George Grey, Eſq;
* Richard Griffith, Surgeon.
* John Frederick Gronovices, M. D.
H
* John Hadley, Eſq; F. R. S.
* Richard Hale, M. D. F. R. S.
* Sir James Hallet.
* Mr. Denham Hammond.
* Henry Heathcote, Eſq; F. R. S.
* William Heathcote, Eſq;
* Charles Hedges, Eſq;
* John James Heidegger, Eſq;
* The Hon. Mrs. Herbert.
* ——— Horſeman, M. D.
* Hugh Howard, Eſq; F. R. S. ​
* Robert Hucks, Eſq; F.R.S.
* * Maurice Hunt, Eſq;
I
* Theodore Jacobſon, Eſq;
* Mr. Benjamin James.
* The Rev. Dr. Richard Ibbetſon, D.D.
* William Jones, Eſq; F. R. S.
* * Thomas Iſted, Eſq; F. R. S.
* James Jurin, M. D. Sec. Reg. Soc.
K
* The Right Reverend the Lord Biſhop of Kilmore.
* Sir John Kaye, Bart.
L
* Smart Lethieuiller, Eſq; F. R. S.
* Col. George Liddel.
* The Rev. Dr. Samuel Liſle, D. D.
* Henry Lloyd, Eſq;
* The Rev. Mr. Richard Lucas, F. R. S.
M
* * His Grace John Duke of Montagu.
* Mr. John Martin, F. R. S.
* John Maubray, M. D.
* * Richard Mead, M. D. F.R. S.
* —— Mead, Eſq;
* Mr. Montagu.
* Francis Moſe, Eſq;
N
* James Naſh, Eſq.
* Sir Michael Newton, Knight of the Bath.
* Col. Francis Nicholſon, F. R. S.
* Mr. Richard Nicholſon jun.
O
* The Right Honourable Charles Earl of Orrery.
* Robert Ord, Eſq; F. R. S.
* The Rev. Mr. Henry Ort, M. A.
* Sir Adolphus Oughton, Bart.
P
* The Right Honourable Thomas Earl of Pembroke.
* Mr. John Padmore.
* Sir Gregory Page, Bart.
* Thomas Pellet, M. D. F. R. S.
* Henry Plumtre, M. D. F. R. S.
* —— Plumtre, Eſq.
* * His Excellency Mr. Stephen Poyntz, His Majeſty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Court of Sweden.
R
* His Grace Charles Duke of Richmond.
* Edward Ratcliff, Eſq;
* Richard Richardſon, M. D. ​
* John Roberts, Eſq;
* Tancred Robinſon, M. D. F. R. S.
* * Edward Rudge, Eſq; F. R. S.
S
* The Right Honourable Talbot Earl of Sussex.
* Jeremy Sambrooke, Eſq;
* Iſaac de Sequeyra Samuda, M. L. F. R. S.
* William Sherard, L. L. D: F. R. S.
* Mr. Shipton, Surgeon.
* Mr. Samuel Skinner, jun.
* Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. P. S. R. & C. M.
* William Sloane, ſen. Eſq;
* William Sloane, jun. Eſg; F. R. S.
* The Rev. Mr. Soley.
* Thomas Spicer, Eſq; Secretary to the Preſentations.
* * Sir Conrad Sprengell, Knt. F, R. S.
* Ferdinand Sprinall, of the Inner Temple, Eſq;
* Oliver St. John, Eſq; F. R. S.
* John Stanhope of Eccle’s-hill, Eſq;
* George Stanley, Eſq; F.R. S.
* ——— Stanley, Eſq;
* Temple Stanyan, Eſq; F. R. S.
* John George Steigerthal, M. D. F. R. S.
* Mr. John Stevans, Surgeon.
* Sir Robert Sutton, Knight of the Bath.
T
* George Lewis Teiſſier, M. D. F. R. S.
* James Theobald, Eſq; F. R. S.
* Peter Theobald, Eſq;
* Joas Tillard, Eſq;
* Mr. Nathaniel Torriano.
* Mr. John Torriano.
* Sigiſmond Trafford, Eſq;
* The Honourable John Trevor, Eſq; F. R. S.
* Abraham Tucker, Eſq;
W
* Stephen Wadſworth, M. D.
* John Wainewright of Lincoln’s-Inn, Eſq;
* William Ward, L. L. D.
* Mr. Thomas Watſon of Lothbury.
* Mr. Thomas Watſon.
* Sir Anthony Weſtcomb, Bart.
* Mr. Thomas Weſton, Maſter of the Academy of Greenwich.
* Mr. Samuel Windor, jun.
* John Woodward, M. D. P. Greſh. F.R.S.
* Francis Woolaſton, Eſq; F. R. S.
Z
* Mr. Zinck.
* Philip Henry Zolmann, Eſq;
The
Contents
Of the firſt Volume.
The History of Japan,
Book I.
Book II.
Of the Political State of Japan.
Book III.
Of the ſtate of Religion in Japan.
Book IV.
Of Nagaſaki, the Place of Reſidence for Foreigners; of their Trade Accommodation, &c.