Bruno Hassenstein's Cartography of Japan

From a historical perspective, Germanophone Japanology is a relatively young academic discipline. Its origins trace back to the late 19th century when diplomats, recruited "contract foreigners," explorers, and former sinologists began studying Japan's economy, religion, medicine, law, language, and history. The European scientific community of Japan research was equally interested in mapping Japan geographically and cartographically. Foremost in this project was the Gotha cartographer Bruno Hassenstein. In collaboration with the geographer Johannes Justus Rein or the English diplomat Ernest Mason Satow, Bruno Hassenstein created detailed maps of Japan, supplemented with texts to convey new knowledge. Hassenstein utilized his extensive contacts with cartographers, Japanese envoys, and Prussian military personnel to acquire map material from Japan and Latin transcriptions of the Japanese script. In this context, Hassenstein developed a comprehensive atlas of Japan, aiming to set new standards, for which he even conceived his own transliteration.

The project examines the influence of cartography on German Japanology in the late 19th century. Until now, the historical development of German-language Japanology has been interpreted with a focus on biographical studies of its pioneers in national contexts. However, the establishment of German-language Japanology as an independent discipline in the late 19th century would not have been possible without a trans-European network of Japan researchers. Of particular interest is the role of Bruno Hassenstein in these trans-European and global networks. Using methodological considerations and perspectives from global history, knowledge history, and history of science, the project explores interconnections, locations, individuals, and practices of knowledge production: How was knowledge about Japan collected, produced, and distributed? How did European researchers engage with Japanese knowledge in geography, philology, history, and religion? And how did researchers address the issue of Japanese transliteration? To address these questions, the project draws on the rich holdings of the Perthes Collection, which includes letters, notes, work diaries, as well as a variety of maps and Japanese translations. Overall, the project undertakes a shift in perspective by situating the emergence of German-language Japanology in trans-European and global contexts.

_{Picture: 秋山永年墨仙[作図] / 船橋渡 ; 船越守愚[撰], Fujimi Juusanshuu Yochi No Zenzu, Japan: Shūseidō 1843, 155 × 175cm, Forschungsbibliothek Gotha, Sammlung Perthes, SPK 30.15.b.06 C (01), Bl. 8.}