A BRIEF HISTORY OF BOTANY IN OLD JAPAN 225 



of the Ptei'idium aquiJinum. In 1836, Yendo Tsil published a book 

 in 3 volumes about the making provision against barren year, and in 

 this work we find a section on wild edible plants. In 1837, Ito Keiske 

 delivered a lecture on the plants available in time of scarcity; this 

 was dictated and printed by Nishio and Matsnoka. In 1842, a com- 

 mentary on i\\QKyu Kivo Honzo in 14 volumes by Ono Keiho, grandson 

 of Ono Ranzan was published. Several other publications on this subject 

 are to be found, but the above are the principal productions. 



Two great works on the flora of Japan were produced in 

 this period, the one by Iwasaki Tsunemasa and the other by linuma 

 Yokusai. Iwasaki's work is entitled Honzo Dsit F'U, or the illustra- 

 tions of the objects of Pents'ao, in 93 volumes. This consists of 

 illustrations of more than 2 thousand species of plants chiefly of 

 Japanese origin. The work was completed in 1828, and manuscript 

 was distributed at the rate of 4 volumes a year, begun in 1829, and 

 required 25 years to the issue of the final volumes. Lately this work 

 was put in print. The SomolxU Dsusetsu, or illustrated descriptions of 

 herbs and trees in 30 volumes, was worked out by linuma Yokusai, a 

 pupil of Ono Eanzan. The work was begun in 1832 and finished in 1856, 

 of which 20 volumes which describe 1201 species of herbaceous ])lants was 

 l>ut in ]>rint in 1856. This work is of greater scientific value than that of 

 Iwasaki's, and the figures and descriptions are far more accurate. The 

 part which treats of about 600 species of trees if', yet in manuscript. 



In this ])eriod Japan was shut up to all nations of Europe 

 except Holland. At first it was strictly forbidden to read and 

 study Dutch books and language for fear of introducing Chris- 

 tianity. But this prohibition was relaxed in some degree at the time 

 of the eighth Tokugawa Bhogun, Yoshimune. The Shogun himself was 

 eager to acquire knowledge of Western sciences, especially of astronomy 

 and also that of natural history. He ordered one of his librarians, 

 Aoki Konyo, to learn to read the Dutch language. At the same time, 

 he ordered Noro Genjyo, one of the physicians-in-ordinary to meet and 

 make inquiry of the Dutch cax)tain who came every year to Yedo in 

 order to deliver presents to the Shogun, touching Dutch materia medica. 

 In March 1741, Noro Genjyo visited the hotel of the Dutch captain, Jakob 

 van der Waijen, and made inquiries about the animal described in 

 Jonston's zoological work published in 1665 which was brought by the 

 captain Hendrik Indiik, 77 years ago to Yedo, and also about the 

 medicinal plants described in the Kruid Boclz of Dodoneus published 



