桂川甫周の世界図について
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概要
- 論文の詳細を見る
It is written in the Preface to General Map of the Globe (Dai Chikyu Zenzu) by Otsuki Gentaku, 1791, that Katsuragawa Hoshu (1754-1809), a famous scholar of Dutch learning in Japan under the Shogunate Regime, made up a world map. But it has not been clear whether this world map is still in existence or not. Recently, however, the author was able to find it among a map collection by Mr. K. Nakao (Osaka). The map is a wood block print of the Western Hemisphere which is 75cm in diameter, and is only a galley proof. Judging from the fact that prof. T. Akioka (Tokyo) also has only the same map of the Western Hemisphere, we can suppose the map of the Eastern Hemisphere has not been printed.According to the preface by Otsuki Gentaku, we know that Hoshu took main source of his map from J. Hubner' s "Algemeene Geographie" (1769). But the author found some differences in Hoshu's map when compared with Hubner's one.Firstly, the projection is not done in the same way: while Hoshu's map is drawn on stereographic projection, Hubner's on globuler projection. Projection and drawing method of meridians and parallels are the same as J. Covens and C. Mortier's world map which Gentaku got from Dr. J.A. Stutzer, Netherlander. From this point we can suppose Hoshu used this map as a reference. Secondly, place names and the shape of continents are different in part from Hubner's map.Hoshu's map of the Western Hemisphere seems to have been printed in 1792. In the same year Shiba Kokan published the first copperplate map of the world in Japan. While Kokan's map is only an imitation of J. Covens & C. Mortier's map, Hoshu's map has new and original contents.In spite of the superiority of Hoshu's map, why he did not publish it as a complete world map including both Hemisphers is somewhat mysterious. The author supposes Hoshu gave up publishing a complete world map, upon seeing Russian's world map with new geographical knowledge, that Kodayu brought back to Japan in 1792.Anyhow, Hoshu's map is probably the first attempt at an authentic map of the world made by Japanese, whether this map was published a whole or not.
- 人文地理学会の論文