Japanese Shogun – Philipp Franz von Siebold, 1832-1852

“Sjogun” lithograph based on the design by Philipp Franz von Siebold, published between 1832 and 1852 as part of his monumental seven-volume “Nippon“, a richly illustrated work covering all aspects of Japan. With original hand colouring (with highlights in gold). Size: (print) 36,5 x 23 cm (paper 60 x 39,5 cm).

Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796-1866) was one of the Westerners who taught Western medicine in Japan. From 1823 to 1829, he served as a physician on Dejima, the Dutch trading post near Nagasaki.

The island of Dejima was only 120 m × 75 m and typically there were about 15 Dutch people on the island, and they were not allowed to leave. Initially, this also applied to Von Siebold. However, he received visits from Japanese physicians to whom he gave lectures. Soon, he obtained permission from the governor of Nagasaki to visit Japanese patients in the city. He collected medicinal herbs and created a herbal garden on the island.

During this period, the chief on Dejima, along with a few others, had to make a court journey to Edo (present-day Tokyo) every four years. Edo was the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate, which effectively governed the country. Von Siebold attended the journey tot the court in 1826.

Although Von Siebold was originally from Würzburg in Germany, he settled in Dutch city of Leiden in 1830 after returning from Japan. From there, he established connections with Dutch and European scientists and wrote his works on the language, nature, history, and population of Japan.

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