When did readers in Japan first see Lithuania’s name written? How did those who wrote it learn about this country? These questions are explored in an article by Dr. Linas Didvalis, an associate professor at the Center for Asian Studies, recently published in an academic journal issued by Meiji University in Japan.
The article is dedicated to exploring the early knowledge about Lithuania that exists in Japanese written sources such as books and maps. The chronological boundary of the study starts with the early 17th century when a curious case of naming territories in the Baltic region first appears with the arrival of Mateo Ricci’s world map to Japan. The first undisputed reference to Lithuania is then indicated in the early 18th century with further cases appearing later in the decades starting with the 1780s. Lithuania’s name is reaching Japan at this time mainly due to exceptional incidents, such as G. B. Sidotti’s attempt to visit Japan or Kodayu Daikokuya’s unfortunate adventures while being stranded in Russia. A substantial increase in more detailed information is noticed with the beginning of more liberal stages of Edo period’s isolationist policy at the start of the 19th century which then transitions into the Meiji era. Overall, Lithuania’s name is discovered in around a dozen written sources, which provides a basis for further research to establish a more nuanced and contextualised view on Japanese early knowledge about European countries beyond those that interacted with Japan the most.
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