[Beginning of modern anatomy in Japan from the perspective of anatomical bibliographies of the Meiji era].

Abstract

In contrast to the days of the Shogunate during the Edo period when knowledge and information from abroad were derived solely from The Netherlands (so-called Western learning), the establishment of the new Meiji government marked the arrival of a wealth of new knowledge from English and German speaking countries to Japan. As with other academic fields, the field of medicine, particularly anatomy, experienced an influx of many foreign books during this period. In the early to middle Meiji period (1868-1887), anatomy books from English-speaking countries became mainstream, and translations of these books were subsequently published. However, following Japan's decision in the third year of the Meiji era (1870) to model itself after German medicine, and the subsequent introduction of German teachers in Japanese medical education, medicine from English-speaking countries was gradually replaced by German medicine. Consequently, a multitude of German anatomy textbooks began to be imported into Japan during the middle Meiji period. In the later half of Meiji period (1888-1912), sequential publication of books written by Japanese anatomists based on German anatomy books became more common, along with the development of medical personnel who had been taught by foreign teachers. Most of the anatomy textbooks written by Japanese anatomists followed a format based on that of German anatomy textbooks of the time. This format style became well established by the late the end of Meiji period, and continued to be used in subsequently published anatomy textbooks until around the end of World War II. Here we introduce books, such as the translated anatomy books and textbooks, that were published during the turbulent Meiji era, and describe these within a bibliographical context.