− | Masaki Toku was the author, in [[1854]], of two volumes about America, ''Amerika-shû enkaku sôsetsu'' (墨利加州沿革総説) and ''Amerika-goku sôki hôshû wage'' (美理哥国総記補輯和解). | + | Masaki Toku was the author of a number of works on foreign countries, published during the [[Bakumatsu period]]. |
− | In writing these two volumes, he drew heavily on the writings of Chinese scholar [[Wei Yuan]], for his information on American geography, climate, history, production, and so forth. Masaki's works were a few of a number of works published around that time in Japan, based on the experiences of members of official missions, study abroad, and illegal secret journeys.
| + | One of his chief works, published in [[1854]] and entitled ''Amerika-shû enkaku sôsetsu Amerika-goku sôki hôshû wage'' (墨利加州沿革総説美理哥国総記補輯和解), draws heavily upon the writings of Chinese scholar [[Wei Yuan]], and describes American geography, climate, history, production, and so forth. Masaki also produced similar works on England and [[Macao]], entitled respectively ''Igirisu-koku sôki wage'' (英利国総記和解) and ''Makao geppô wage'' (澳門月報和解). These were also based on Chinese texts. |
| + | Masaki's works were a few of a number of works published around that time in Japan, based on the experiences of members of official missions, study abroad, and illegal secret journeys. |