Collection
Haruma wage, a Dutch-Japanese Dictionary
| Haruma wage, a Dutch-Japanese Dictionary |
| 13 volumes; height 25.0 cm, width 17.8 cm; Edo period, 19th century |
The Haruma wage is Japan’s first Dutch-Japanese dictionary. It was compiled under the leadership of Inamura Sanpaku (1758–1811), a scholar of Western learning. Completed in 1796, the dictionary contributed greatly to the advancement of study of the West. The original book has the Dutch entries in woodblock-printed letters and their Japanese translations written with a brush. This set is an entirely handwritten copy and includes marginal notes. The lid of the storage box (see photo) is inscribed “Kōmōsho, 13 satsu” (“Red Hair” [i.e., Western] Book, 13 volumes) by Ii Naoaki in his own hand.
