Transition from herbalism to natural history

With reference to the honzo study textbook Honzo Komoku (1802), this book introduces approximately 300 diagrams based on a seminal study of over 1362 species of animals, plants and minerals. It explains in details the Japanese and Chinese names of the species, as well as the regional origin, form and its effectiveness. This is considered to be epoch making literature marking the first step in Japanese herbal medicine. THe Yamato Honzo has significant historical value as the pioneer of natural history during the Edo period.

Illustrations of shellfish.

Amari shellfish...

And a horseshoe crab.

The Unkonshi was named after the phrase "cluds are generated from rocks". It contains information on habitat, history and features of over 2000 tyoes of unique rocks and stone tools, fossils and minerals which were collected by Sekitei Kiuchi during his lifetime. Born in 1724, Kiuchi worked with the local magistrate of the Zeze domain until he retired in his 20's. He studied honzogaku with Keian Tsushima in Kyoto, and became one the central figures in the Kansai cultural salon of that time. He actively attended exhibits throughout the country including Kyoto to collect specimens and gather information.

This book is a collection of materials from five medicine exhibitions organized by Gennai Hiraga and Motoo Tamura between 1757 and 1762. Categorized according to the Honzo Komoku, the book focuses on explanations on specimens collected both in Japan and abroda. There are over 360 specimens, including a specimen of a lizard preserved in liquid obtained from rapeki daimyo acquaintances. The book explains cultivation method of ginseng and sugar canes proposed by Gennai, proving to be a epoch making book for honzogaku in the Edo period.

An olive tree on the left, and a maple tree on the right.

The Yosan Hiroku was exported abroad by the Siebold. During this time, Europe was struggling with  a countermeasure against silkworm disease which had spread. This book was included among the items presented by Siebold to the King of Holland. It was translated into French and later published in Paris and Italy in 1848, making a significant contribution to the silkworm breeding industry in Europe. This is a  well known example of Japanese technology from the Edo period having an impact overseas in areas other than painting and performing arts.

The first edition of this book, published in 1697, consisted of 10 volumes and 1 appendix volume. It was written by Yasusada Miyazaki who served for the Kyushu Koroda domain based on his findings from forty years of experiments and observations. Using the Jo Kokei's Nosei Zensho (Ming Dynasty) as he model, this book aimed to compile Japanese adricultural technology into one book. Beginning with the second edition in 1786, this book continued to be the standard book on agriculture in Japan for a long time. Subsequent to Volume 1 (10 chapters) on Introduction to Agriculture (farming, seeds, soil, fetilizers, etc.), the series consists of Gogoku (volume 2, 19 types), Sanso (volume 6, 11 types), Shimoku (volume 7, 4 types), Kamoku (volume 8, 17 types), Shomuku (volume 9, 15 types, and Medicine (volume 10, 22 types).

Harvesting

Carrying reaped rice on a cow's back.

Rice threshing, and a woman giving her child a piggyback.

The Shokugaku Keigen by the Dutch scholar Yoan Udagawa, is the first book on Western modern botany introduced in Japan as well as the West. In the foreword of the book, Kenbo Mitsukuri writes that this bool differs from honzogaku and Western botany in the past, stressing the importance of studying the law and process of natural science as a academic study, and not merely categorizing. It comprises of three volumes with the first volume discussing plant classification, and the shape and physiology of roots, stem and leaves. The second volume looks at flowers and fruits, and the reproduction and DNA mechanism of seeds. The third volume talks about plant fermentation and decomposition and includes diagrams.

The morphology of plants and vegetables such as roots, stems and leaves.