Japan and Dutch relationship

Technological Advancements

Technological Advancements

Some technological advancements that had been created or discovered during the Dutch golden age were things such as ship and textile building facilities that were often used for trade with other countries. This increase of trade allowed trading ports to grow and stimulated the Dutch's wealth and prosperity which gave the name "the golden age".

Art of the Golden Age

Art of the Golden Age

The art of the Dutch golden age were unlike any that had previously been portrayed in European art. This was due to the amounts of religious art pieces that had been banned from being produced, by the religion called Calvinism. At this time, there were small amounts of these paintings which showed up here and there and were highly liked by the Dutch, as well as many from across Europe.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Ruling Powers

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the current shogun at the time. When the Tokugwawa Shogunate was in power, it was called the edo period and it lasted until 1867. He was born in 1543 on January 31st and died on the 1st of June, 1616. The shogunate at the time had control over the emperor and had assumed control over Japan. Tokugawa came into power when the previous shogun, Toyotomi HIdeyoshi died, and the daimyos all fought for the position of shogun. This eventually resulted in Tokugawa claiming the position and becoming the ruling power of Japan.

Early 1600s was the start of the edo period where the Japanese had just defeated Oda Nobunaga and there was lots of political fights occuring within Japan. When Tokugawa Ieyasu came into power, he unified Japan and banned Christianity. At that time, Japan was using a societical structure where the emperor was at the top, followed by the nobles and shogun and then the Daimyo which where the feudal lords. After the Daimyo come the samurais, and then the peasants, merchants and craftesmen. This was structure that the japanese used in the edo period but in reality, the shogun had more power than the emperor and was the one who ran the country

Current Situtation

The Battle of Sekigahara

Major Events

The battle of Sekigahara was the battle that decidede the shogun in Japan, after the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Toyotomi had originally wanted his succesor, Hideyori to become the shogun but Tokugawa had gone against his promise and had decided to take the shogun position himself. This resulted in Tokugawa defeating Hideyori's supporters and claiming the shougn position for himself.

Dejima Port

Dejima port was the one place in all of Japan, that was allowed access to trade with the outside world, mainly being the Dutch only. Japan only allowed the Dutch to trade while in their isolation period due to them trading useful items such as spices, textiles, porcelain and silk as well as books that allowed them to learn each others language and communicate better.

Cultural Exchange

The trade between the Japanese and the Dutch resulted in the two cultures mixing and some words being crossed over between the two. Some words such as glass were transferred and adapted into the Japanese language and are still used now.

Cultural Exchange

When was it made and what was it used for

The rangaku system was made in the late 18-19th century by the eighth shogun of the edo period, Shogun Yoshimune. It was made so that the Japanese could learn from the more advanced western technology. The Dutch from Dejima Port also helped to create the Rangaku System. This was made after Japan's isolation period which made the Japanese newly aware of this technology.

When it was created and what it was used for

Is it still used today?

No, the Rangaku System is now not in use due to Japan coming out of isolation and allowing others to travel to and from its land. This allowed the Japanese to collect texts from all over the world and the Rangaku System being used to translate these things no longer being needed as the Japanese learnt the other languages with time.

Is it still used?

The Museum's Purpose

Its Purpose

The purpose of the museum was to show and exhibit the items that Siebold had claimed from Japan. The other purpose of the Museum was to spread the culture of Japan to the Netherlands and to strengthen the bond between Japan and the Dutch.

About Philipp Franz von Siebold

About Siebold

Philipp Franz von Siebold was a German physician who was alive from 1796-1866 and was employed by the Dutch East India company and he resided in Japan from 1822-1828. Throughout his stay in Japan, Siebold collected many items and taught the Japanese about medical techniques such as surgery techniques that used pupillary dilatation. Siebold was a very influential person who helped advance Japanese medicinal techniques as well as helping to strengthen the bond between Japan and the Netherlands.