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Nishikawa Joken was a prominent scholar of the 17th and early 18th centuries, known for his writings on ''tengaku'' (celestial sciences) and on the peoples of the world. Joken is regarded as one of the earliest Japanese scholars to engage with and promote European observational approaches to astronomy.

Nishikawa Joken was a prominent scholar of the 17th and early 18th centuries, known for his writings on ''tengaku'' (celestial sciences) and on the peoples of the world. Joken is regarded as one of the earliest Japanese scholars to engage with and promote European observational approaches to astronomy.

Joken was born into a townsman (''chônin'') family in [[Nagasaki]]. He is believed to have studied astronomy under [[Kobayashi Kentei]] ([[1601]]-[[1684]])<!--小林謙貞-->.

Joken was born into a townsman (''chônin'') family in [[Nagasaki]]. He is believed to have studied astronomy under [[Kobayashi Kentei]] ([[1601]]-[[1684]])<!--小林謙貞-->, and other Confucian studies with [[Nanbu Soju|Nanbu Sôju]] ([[1637]]-[[1688]])<!--南部草壽-->.

Joken published one of his most famous works on peoples and places of the world, ''[[Kai tsusho ko|Ka'i tsûshô kô]]'', in [[1695]]. This original version was in two volumes, and described the lands of China, Korea, Ryukyu, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Europe, and their peoples. In [[1709]], Joken published an expanded version, ''Zôho ka'i tsûshô kô'', covering the same subjects in five volumes.

Joken published one of his most famous works on peoples and places of the world, ''[[Kai tsusho ko|Ka'i tsûshô kô]]'', in [[1695]]. This original version was in two volumes, and described the lands of China, Korea, Ryukyu, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Europe, and their peoples. In [[1709]], Joken published an expanded version, ''Zôho ka'i tsûshô kô'', covering the same subjects in five volumes.

In [[1719]], the shogunate summoned Joken to [[Edo]] to consult him on astronomical matters. The following year, [[Nagasaki interpreters|Nagasaki-based Chinese-language interpreter]] [[Ro Sosetsu|Ro Sôsetsu]] was also summoned to Edo and the two began to work together. Though Joken was never officially named to the position of ''[[tenmongata]]'' (astronomy/calendrics official for the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]), his son [[Nishikawa Seikyu|Nishikawa Seikyû]] ([[1693]]-[[1756]])<!--西川正休--> later was.

In [[1719]], the shogunate summoned Joken to [[Edo]] to consult him on astronomical matters. The following year, [[Nagasaki interpreters|Nagasaki-based Chinese-language interpreter]] [[Ro Sosetsu|Ro Sôsetsu]] was also summoned to Edo and the two began to work together. Though Joken was never officially named to the position of ''[[tenmongata]]'' (astronomy/calendrics official for the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]), his son [[Nishikawa Seikyu|Nishikawa Seikyû]] ([[1693]]-[[1756]])<!--西川正休--> later was. Joken's daughter, meanwhile, married a son of Chinese interpreter [[Sakaki Soken]] (d. [[1740]])<!--彭城素軒-->, who had written the preface to several of Joken's books.

 

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