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''Hǎiguó túzhì'' was a book on maritime countries of the world by [[Wei Yuan]], published originally in [[1844]] and later expanded. Though the [[Nagasaki]] authorities attempted to prevent the book from getting into Japan, it came to be widely distributed among both officials and commoners.

''Hǎiguó túzhì'' was a book on maritime countries of the world by [[Wei Yuan]], published originally in [[1844]] and later expanded. Though the [[Nagasaki]] authorities attempted to prevent the book from getting into Japan, it came to be widely distributed among both officials and commoners.

Based on the work of [[Lin Zexu]], it was originally published in fifty volumes (or fascicles) in 1844, then republished in sixty fascicles in [[1849]], and expanded to a hundred-fascicle version in [[1852]].

Based on the writings of [[Lin Zexu]], it was originally published in fifty volumes (or fascicles) in 1844, then republished in sixty fascicles in [[1849]], and expanded to a hundred-fascicle version in [[1852]].

Three sets of the work entered Nagasaki on a Chinese ship in [[1851]], and were caught by the chief censor, Mukai Geki. Sensing the book might be a "dangerous" text worthy of censorship, he informed his superiors and awaited their reply; however, in the meantime, at least one of the sets came into the hands of the ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' [[Makino Tadamasa]], and before long, two other ''rôjû'' had copies as well. Another fifteen sets made their way into the country two years later, with seven being bought up by high-ranking shogunate officials, and eight going onto the open market. Some sections, including those discussing the United States, were soon popularly republished and widely distributed, amidst the excitement and concerns surrounding the arrival of [[Commodore Perry|Commodore Perry's]] "black ships."

Three sets of the work entered Nagasaki on a Chinese ship in [[1851]], and were caught by the chief censor, Mukai Geki. Sensing the book might be a "dangerous" text worthy of censorship, he informed his superiors and awaited their reply; however, in the meantime, at least one of the sets came into the hands of the ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' [[Makino Tadamasa]], and before long, two other ''rôjû'' had copies as well. Another fifteen sets made their way into the country two years later, with seven being bought up by high-ranking shogunate officials, and eight going onto the open market. Some sections, including those discussing the United States, were soon (in [[1854]])<ref>William Steele, "Goemon's New World View: Popular Representations of the Opening of Japan," ''Ajia bunka kenkyû'' 17 (1989), 75.</ref> popularly republished and widely distributed, amidst the excitement and concerns surrounding the arrival of [[Commodore Perry|Commodore Perry's]] "black ships."

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==References==

==References==

*[[Marius Jansen]], ''China in the Tokugawa World'', Harvard University Press (1992), 74-75.

*[[Marius Jansen]], ''China in the Tokugawa World'', Harvard University Press (1992), 74-75.

[[Category:Historical Documents]]

[[Category:Historical Documents]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]