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10.1515 Ci.2007.29.5.12
10.1515 Ci.2007.29.5.12
T
his article briefly reviews the
development of science and tech- A Period of Modernization
nology in Asia, mainly in Japan. A systematic investigation
It focuses on why science and technol- of the chemical sciences of
ogy in Japan were able to develop after Japan was started by Yoan
the catastrophic damage of the Second Udagawa (1798–1846; right),
World War. Since this paper was read at who was influenced by the
the 9th Eurasia Conference on Chemical books of Antoine Laurent
Sciences, an emphasis is placed on the relationship Lavoisier. In 1837 he published
between Asian and Western countries. the first Japanese chemistry
textbook, which was entitled
Japan was an underdeveloped country in science Seimi-Kaiso or “Opening of
and technology 150 years ago, although mathemati- Chemistry.”(“Seimi” comes
cian Kowa Seki and physicist Gennai Hiraga did make from the pronunciation of
important contributions around that time. Japan had “chemie” in Dutch. See photo
been isolated from other countries for 300 years dur- on page 13.)
ing the Tokugawa Period until the Meiji Era, which The Isolation Policy of Yoan Udagawa
began in 1852. During this period, Japan had practi- Japan started at the begin-
cally no exposure to European and American science, ning of the 17th century and ended in 1854. In 1853,
technology, or culture. On the other hand, the char- four Black Ships directed by U.S. Commodore Matthew
acteristic culture of Japan had been blooming during C. Perry (1794–1858) visited Uraga, a small town near
this period. Yokohama. Commodore Perry’s superior military force
Other Asian countries, which were controlled by enabled him to negotiate a treaty allowing American
suzerain states at that time, were much more enriched trade with Japan, ending a 200-year period in which
in modern science and technology than Japan. trading with Japan was only allowed to the Dutch,
However, in most case the science and technology Chinese, and a few other small groups. The following
were exclusively used by the suzerains, and the native year, at the Convention of Kanagawa, Perry returned
people did not share in its benefits. with seven ships and forced the shogun to sign the
“Treaty of Peace and Amity,” establishing formal diplo-
Modern Chemical Sciences in Japan matic relations between Japan and the United States.
Many technological advances occurred in Asia before
the advent of modern chemistry. For example, gun- Foreign Teachers of Science and Technology
powder originated in China in the 7th century—much In 1867, soon after the end of the Tokugawa Period
earlier than in Europe where it was not produced until (Edo Era), a new government under the Meiji Emperor
the 13th century. Further improvements in gunpowder began. During this era, the government launched
a campaign to modernize the country and elevate
*The full version of this paper is included in the Proceedings Japanese culture to the level of European culture,
of the 9th Eurasia Conference of Chemical Sciences, to be especially in the area of science and technology.
published by Springer-Verlag, under the title “Innovations in As part of this effort, the government invited about
Chemical Biology.” (See conference report in Mar-Apr 2007 3 000 foreign teachers to private schools in various
CI, p. 24.) parts of Japan. Their monthly payments were compa-
†Hitoshi Ohatki passed away on 5 November 2006, a rable to those of government ministers. In 1868, the
few days after submitting this paper to CI. Ohtaki was first university in Japan was established: the Imperial
a professor in the Department of Applied Chemistry of
University of Tokyo.
the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Ritsumeikan
University, in Kusatsu, Japan.
Science and Technology Textbooks in Japanese