Engelbert Kaempfer: The History of Japan, London 1727 |
[xxix]
THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE
Germany was as yet engaged in war with the Ottoman Porte and the most Christian King, when the Swedish Embassy, which I had the honour to attend as Secretary, was dismiss'd by the Persian Court. It agreed best with my inclination to undertake a farther journey, and I chose rather to lead the restless and troublesome life of a Traveller, than by coming home to subject myself to a share in that train of calamities my native Country was then involved in. Therefore I took my leave of the Ambassador, and his retinue, (who did me the honour to attend me a mile out of Ispahan) with a firm resolution to spend some years longer in seeing other Eastern Courts, Countries and Nations. I was never used to receive large supplies of money from home: 'Twas by my own industry I had till then supported myself, and the very same means maintain'd me afterwards, as long as I staid abroad, and enabled me to serve the Dutch East-India Company) though in a less honourable employment. This ofspring of Japhet enjoys, more than any other European nation, the blessing of Noah, to live in the tents of Shem, and to have Canaan for their servant. God hath so blessed their valour and conduct, that they have enlarged their trade, conquests and possessions throughout Asia, to the very extremities of the East, and there hath never been wanting among them a succession of prudent and able men, who have promoted their interest and welfare to the utmost of their [xxx] capacity. But to come to the point. It was by the gracious leave, and under the protection of this honourable Company, that I have often obtain'd my end in the Indies, and have had the satisfaction at last to see the remote Empire of Japan, and the Court of its powerful Monarch. 'Tis the present state of this Court and Empire, which I herewith offer to the publick, before my other works, which I have lately promised in the Preface to my Amoenitates Exoticae. I can assure the Reader, that both my description and representations of things, though perhaps less elegant and perfect, are yet strictly agreeable to truth, and without embellishments, such as they occurred to me. I must own, that as to the more private affairs of the Empire, I could not procure full and ample informations enough: It is known, how difficult a matter it is for a foreigner to do it in any Country, and I found by experience, that it is much more so in Japan. Ever since the Roman Catholick Religion hath been extirpated, the Dutch and Chinese Merchants in a manner imprison'd and the whole Emeire shut up to all Commerce and comnlunication with foreign nations, the natives must be extreamly cautious and reserved in their behaviour with regard to those foreigners, who are permitted to trade and are tolerated among them. Those in particular who are more immediately concerned with our affairs, are all obliged, by a solemn oath, not to discourse with us, nor to discover any thing to us, of the condition of their Country, the Religions therein established, the private transactions at Court and in the Empire, and other things, and they are so far necessitated to be upon their guard as by the same oath they are tied down to watch and to betray one another. For a farther confirmation, this oath is renew'd to them every year. In so low a condition is at present the credit of foreigners in Japan: The Dutch who are suffer'd to trade there, have found it by long experience, and are of opinion, that it is impossible for them to procure any information concerning the present condition of the Empire, for asmuch as they have neither [xxxi] proper opportunities, nor liberty enough for it, as M. Cleyer, who was himself Director of our trade there, and our Ambassador to the Emperor's Court, complaints in a letter to the learned Scheffer. The difficulties, I own, are great and considerable, but not altogether insuperable. They may be overcome by proper management, even notwithstanding all the precautions the Japanese government hath taken to the contrary. The Japanese, a prudent and valiant nation, are not so easily to be bound by an oath taken to such Gods, or Spirits, as are not worship'd by many, and unknown to most: If they do comply with it, 'tis more for fear of the punishment, which would inevitably attend them, if betray'd. Besides, their pride and warlike humour being set aside, they are as civil, as polite and curious a nation as any in the world, naturally inclined to commerce and familiarity with foreigners, and desirous, to excess, to be informed of their histories, arts and sciences. But as we are only merchants, whom they place in the lowest class of mankind, and as the narrow inspection, we are kept under, must naturally lead them to some jealousy and mistrust, so there is no other way to gain their friendship, and to win them over to our interest, but a willingness to comply with their desire, a liberality to please their avaricious inclinations, and a submissive conduct to flatter their vanity. 'Twas by these means I work'd myself into such a friendship and familiarity with our interpreters, and the officers of our island, who daily come over to us, as I believe none before me could boast of, ever since we have been put under such narrow regulations. Liberally assisting them, as I did, with my advice and medicines, with what information I was able to give them in Astronomy and Mathematicks, and with a cordial and plentiful supply of European liquors, I could also, in my turn, freely put ,to them what questions I pleased, about the affairs of their Country, whether relating to the government in Civil or Ecclesiastical afairs, to the customs of the natives, to the natural and political historv. and there was none [xxxii] that ever refused to give me all the information he could, even when we were alone, in such things, which they are otherwise strictly charged to keep secret. These private informations I procured from those who came to visit me, were of great use to me in collecting materials for my intended history of this Country, but yet they fell far short of being altogether satisfactory, and I should not perhaps have been able to compass that design, if I had not, by good luck, met with other opportunities, and in particular the assistance of a discreet young man, by whose means I was richly supplied with whatever notice I wanted, concerning the affairs of Japan. He was about twentyfour years of age, well vers'd in the Chinese and Japanese languages, and very desirous of improving himself. Upon my arrival, he was appointed to wait on me, as my servant, and at the same time to be by me instructed in Physick and Surgery. The Ottona, who is the chief officer of our island, having been by him, though under my inspection, taken care of in a distemper of his, suffer'd him to continue in my service during the whole time of my abode in the Country, which was two years, and to attend me in our two journeys to Court, consequently four times almost from one end of the Empire to the other, a favour which is seldom granted to young men of his age, but was never done for so long a time. As I could not well have obtain'd my end without givin him a competent knowledge of the Dutch lansuage, I instructed him therein with so much success, that in a year's time he could write and read it better than any of our interpreters: I also gave him all the information I could in Anatomy and Physick, and farther allow'd him a handsome yearly salary, to the best of my abilities. In return, I employ'd him to procure me as ample accounts, as possible, of the then state and condition of the Country, its Government, the Imperial Court, the Religions established ln the Empire, the History of former ages, and remarkable daily Occurrences. There was not a Book I desired to see, on these and other subjects, which he did [xxxiii] not bring to me, and explain to me, out of it, whatever I wanted to know. And because he was obliged, in several things, to enquire, to borrow, or to buy of other people, I never dismiss'd him without providing him with money for such purposes) besides his yearly allowance. So expensive, so difficult a thing is it to foreigners, ever since the shutting up of the Japanese Empire, to procure any information about it: What I have been able to do, I freely communicate to the Publick in this present History.
