The Japanese Discovery of Victorian Britain

Early Travel Encounters in the Far West

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Cultural Studies, Ethnic Studies
Cover of the book The Japanese Discovery of Victorian Britain by Andrew Cobbing, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Andrew Cobbing ISBN: 9781134250134
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: November 5, 2013
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Andrew Cobbing
ISBN: 9781134250134
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: November 5, 2013
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

The investigations undertaken in the pursuit of knowledge by the first overseas Japanese travellers during the 1860s and 70s have left a unique record of life in the then unknown west. Leaving behind a homeland culturally isolated for more than 200 years, these samurai travellers were especially fascinated by the extent of British political and commercial influence they observed during their travels, and therefore paid particularly close attention to the Victorian world and recorded all they saw in minute detail. Their diaries and 'travelogues' comprise the single largest body of material on Victorian society to be recorded in any non-European language. This book examines the nature of these travellers' experiences and their perceptions of Victorian Britain. A deeper understanding of this rich source material is important because, although entirely unknown to British readers, the documents reveal one of the most spectacular culture shocks ever recorded in World History. They are also important because the images of Victorian and other western societies that they portrayed to the Japanese reading public in the late nineteenth century still underpin Japanese understanding of the outside world more than a hundred years later.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The investigations undertaken in the pursuit of knowledge by the first overseas Japanese travellers during the 1860s and 70s have left a unique record of life in the then unknown west. Leaving behind a homeland culturally isolated for more than 200 years, these samurai travellers were especially fascinated by the extent of British political and commercial influence they observed during their travels, and therefore paid particularly close attention to the Victorian world and recorded all they saw in minute detail. Their diaries and 'travelogues' comprise the single largest body of material on Victorian society to be recorded in any non-European language. This book examines the nature of these travellers' experiences and their perceptions of Victorian Britain. A deeper understanding of this rich source material is important because, although entirely unknown to British readers, the documents reveal one of the most spectacular culture shocks ever recorded in World History. They are also important because the images of Victorian and other western societies that they portrayed to the Japanese reading public in the late nineteenth century still underpin Japanese understanding of the outside world more than a hundred years later.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Shakespeare by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book Later Medieval Europe by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book East Meets West in Dance by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book Reading Rodney King/Reading Urban Uprising by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book Women and Religion in the West by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book The Commemoration of Women in the United States by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book Developing High Performance Leaders by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book Understanding Emerging Security Challenges by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book Time in Antiquity by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book The Romantic Revolution in America: 1800-1860 by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book Affect, Cognition and Change by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book Teaching Academic ESL Writing by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book Risk-Takers by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book Flood Hazards and Health by Andrew Cobbing
Cover of the book ASEAN Business in Crisis by Andrew Cobbing
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy