The Dutch Window Into Japan

January 11, 2012

In between meeting with a prospective scientific collaborator and the PhD student defense (see next post) there was time for some brief sightseeing. Sicco took me to the van Siebold house. Who was Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796-1866)? If you are a Japanese child you learned about him in school because he was responsible for introducing Japanese culture to Europe. In doing so he paid a personal price by being expelled from Japan for “spying.” Von Siebold was a German/Dutch surgeon, obstetrician, botanist and natural scientist who went to Japan in the early 1800s. At that time Japan was isolated from the rest of the world and intentionally only traded with the Dutch. Those of you who have read “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet” by David Mitchell already know that the Dutch were quarantined on a small island in Nagasaki Harbor. Von Siebold treated the Dutch sailors. Over time he learned Japanese (which was strictly forbidden) and was allowed to go into Nagasaki to provide medical treatment, including previously unknown therapies such as cataract surgery. His patients paid him in art and natural specimens. The photos show some of his unusual collection, including an acupuncture statue and scrolls. In Japan von Siebold had a dog named Sakura. After he died he was stuffed, and he is included in the collection. Von Siebold earned the trust of the Japanese and was allowed to make the journey through Japan to Edo (Tokyo). He fell in love with a Japanese courtesan who bore him a daughter. (This daughter eventually became the first female obstetrician in the Royal Court). At one point von Siebold was heading back to Europe and his ship was wrecked in a typhoon. The Japanese authorities examined the wreckage and found (highly illegal) maps of Japan amongst von Siebold’s trunks. He was accused of treason and sent back to Europe. He then married a Dutch woman who bore him five children. There were interesting video interviews of some of the European and Japanese von Siebold great-grandchildren. Eventually, when Japan opened their borders von Siebold was allowed to return. He was finally recognized as someone who had a deep and abiding respect for Japan. The museum is in the house that he rented in Leiden. It showcases his collections. In the garden is his statue as well as examples of plants that he named, such as hosta sieboldis.