A Treatise on the Religion of the Japanese: On the Introduction of the Christian Religion into That Place: On its Eradication: To Which is Added a Brief Account of the Diverse Religions of the Various Nations of the Whole World (Tractatus de Iaponiorum religione : de Chritianae religionis introductione in ea loca : de ejusdem exstirpatione : adjuncta est de diversa diversarum gentium totius telluris Religione brevis informatio) [Latin] Year: 1649 Call Number: RBK1600-00051 The book has dyed vellum binding, a handwritten title on the spine and an old title label affixed to the top. This book is the first edition of the first monograph on Japanese studies in the Western world, and contains some translations of Schouten’s Siamese works. The author, Bernhard Varenius, a German geographer, compiled this work by integrating various oral sources from the Dutch East India Company, Portuguese Jesuits, and Japanese-Portuguese merchants, despite never having resided in Japan. The first part of the work provides a detailed description of Japan, encompassing its customs, geography, natural history, politics, clothing, science, art, trade, etc. The second part provides a detailed account of the rituals of Shintoism and Buddhism, and examines the complete context of the introduction, development, and eventual suppression of Christianity by the shogunate from Xavier’s arrival in 1549 to the Shimabara Rebellion in 1639. 286 58
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