The Dutch and Japan Sharlyn Scott

“The Red Haired Barbarians” in Japan

The Dutch factory in Hirado. 1669 engraving by Montanus.

Map of Nagasaki Hishu Nagasaki no zu 1802 34 x 46 cm Map of Nagasaki Hishu Nagasaki no zu 1802 34 x 46 cm. Publisher: Bunkindô, Nagasaki Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 1 Slide: BG K9/420 Dejima is the fan-shaped island, left above center. Its area was approximately 70 by 210 meters, and was connected to the mainland by a guarded wooden drawbridge. The square artificial island further to the left was for the Chinese traders.

VOC Headquarters in Amsterdam VOC Emblem VOC Headquarters in Amsterdam

“We are not Christians! We are Hollanders!”

17th century Japanese depiction of Dutch traders.

Utagawa Teishu, 1862

Oranda Tsuji

Phillip Franz Von Siebold statue in Tokyo

Dutch on their rounds Oranda-jin junkan no zu 32 x 22 cm. Inv. nr Dutch on their rounds Oranda-jin junkan no zu 32 x 22 cm. Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 9 Slide: BG K9/428 Dutchmen on a court journey with musicians and an elephant, a gift to the shôgun.

[Camel and dromedary] 1821 30. 5 x 22. 5 cm [Camel and dromedary] 1821 30.5 x 22.5 cm. Publisher: Nawaya, Nagasaki Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 8 Slide: BG K9/427 These animals were brought to the shôgun in Edo with the court journey of 1821. The text provides details about camels. Two camels that were imported in the 6th month of the year Hunsei 4 (July 1821) in a Dutch ship. They come from a place called Mecca, in the country Arabia. The male is five years old, the female four years. The height is nine feet and the length 2 ken (3,60 metre). Just like oxen and horses in this country, the animal is used in farming only. (When it lies down) the animal bends its legs in threes, and when it is loaded it will carry over 1000 katti (1 katti = 625 grams). It walks over 100 ri (100 miles) a day. If it is allowed to eat until it is satisfied, it will not eat for five days afterwards. The females and males of this animal are very attached to one another.  

Dutch on their rounds Oranda-jin junkan no zu 22. 5 x 32 cm. Inv. nr Dutch on their rounds Oranda-jin junkan no zu 22.5 x 32 cm. Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 10 Slide: BG K9/429 This is a free interpretation of the journey to the governor of Nagasaki in 1844.

[Dutchman with telescope] 43.8 x 16.3 cm. Publisher: Yamatoya Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 11 Slide: BG K9/430 The telescope was one of many Western inventions introduced to Japan by the Dutch.

19th Century Nagasaki-e

Dutchman weighing goods Oranda-jin kamotsu o kakeru Ca. 1845 43 Dutchman weighing goods Oranda-jin kamotsu o kakeru Ca. 1845 43.5 x 16 cm. Publisher: Yamatoya, Nagasaki Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 13 Slide: BG K9/432 The Dutch trader is weighing ivory elephant's tusks that are left on the scales. There is a notebook under his left arm.

Dutchman and Javanese servant playing with dogs Oranda-jin kurombô girô ken zu 37 x 25 cm. Publisher: Daiyoshi-han (Yamatoya), Nagasaki Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 17 Slide: BG K9/436 The Dutch official is accompanied by a servant from Java, Indonesia, which was a Dutch colony at the time.

Dutchmen preparing ointment Kômô-jin koyaku neri no zu 25 x 19. 4 cm Dutchmen preparing ointment Kômô-jin koyaku neri no zu 25 x 19.4 cm. Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 15 Slide: BG K9/434 The Japanese were very interested in Western medicine, which was unknown in Japan before the arrival of the Dutch.

[Dutchmen at a dinner] 25. 7 x 38. 3 cm. Inv. nr. : NEHA SC 477 nr [Dutchmen at a dinner] 25.7 x 38.3 cm. Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 36 Slide: BG K9/460

Portraits of figures from barbarian countries: the king of Holland Bankoku jimbutsu zue: oranda no kokuo 1861 35.2 x 23.6 cm Artist: Ichieisai Yoshitsuya Publisher: Ebiya Rinnosuke, Yokohama Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 27 Slide: BG K9/446 A caricatural fantasy of King William III rather than a portrait, accompanied by a satirical poem: Even the people who write with crabbed hand are craving for the Elevated Way of our Country  

Dutch ship Oranda sen zu 1802 30. 5 x 22. 5 cm Dutch ship Oranda sen zu 1802 30.5 x 22.5 cm. Publisher: Bunkindô, Nagasaki Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 2 Slide: BG K9/421 The yellow flag in the center carries the emblem of the VOC, the Dutch East-India Company, but it is upside down. The text gives details about the ship's size and distances between Japan and other parts of the world.

Dutch ship Oranda fune no zu 1859 Artist: Yoshitora Publisher: Shimaya, Yokohama 36.5 x 25.5 cm. Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 31 Slide: BG K9/450 Top left, the portrait of a Dutchman, top right, an admiring text about Dutch ship building and navigation. Text: (right to left) A long time ago the Dutch already were very skilled in navigation, and Dutch ships sailed around the world. The Dutch are very well versed in shipbuilding and of how to use ships profitably for foreign markets. They chose good materials and worked like when building up stone walls; they used iron nails and filled up cracks with tar and hemp. In the fourth month they sailed from their country (from Indonesia, the journey from Indonesia lasted much longer) and in the sixth month they arrived here. When (the ship arrives) in Nagasaki and the cannons, which are placed side by side, are fired, clouds appear and make the ship invisible. When the smoke has risen, the sails that had been visible in large numbers suddenly appear to have been rolled up. Upon departure they also fire cannons, and before the smoke has risen they have already hoisted the sails, astonishing the spectators. Their maneuvering is truly miraculously fast and mysterious.  

Dutchman training horse Oranda-jin bajutsu no zu 44 x 16 cm. Inv. nr Dutchman training horse Oranda-jin bajutsu no zu 44 x 16 cm. Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 14 Slide: BG K9/433 The Dutch imported good horses to Japan, and taught riding and dressage.

Depiction of a Dutchman Oranda-jin zu 30 x 12. 5 cm. Inv. nr Depiction of a Dutchman Oranda-jin zu 30 x 12.5 cm. Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 16 Slide: BG K9/435 The shôgun expressed the desire to have a bird of paradise. The Dutch brought a peacock, but that would not do.

True portrait of a Dutchman Shôsha Oranda-jin 1861 34. 2 x 23. 7 cm True portrait of a Dutchman Shôsha Oranda-jin 1861 34.2 x 23.7 cm. Artist: Ichikawa Yoshikazu Publisher: Sanoya Kihei Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 25 Slide: BG K9/444 A Dutchman and a Chinese servant.

Dutch trading agent admires the peonies as the body of his wife Oranda-jin shôkan fukikusa shôbi no karada 1861 34.9 x 24 cm. Artist: Gountei Sadahide Publisher: Moriya Jihei, Yokohama Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 26 Slide: BG K9/445 The female portrait represents the wife of the trading agent, far away.

[Hunting a Monkey] 36. 8 x 25. 4 cm. Inv. nr. : NEHA SC 477 nr [Hunting a Monkey] 36.8 x 25.4 cm. Inv.nr.: NEHA SC 477 nr. 38 Slide: BG K9/458 A group of Westerners on a hunting party for monkeys.

Slides 4 & 5: 1707 map of Japan, with a cartouche representing the audience of William Adams with the Shogun. From Naaukeurige Versameling der Gedenk-Waardigste Zee en Land-Reysen (a seies of accounts of famous voyages). Thought to be by Pieter van der Aa. ) Source: International Institute of Social History (Netherlands). “Exhibition of Japanese Prints”. http://www.iisg.nl/index.php . Retrieved 23 July 2007.