Kume Kunitake

Kume Kunitake (Japanese久 米 邦 武; * 1839 in the province of Hizen, now Saga Prefecture, † February 24, 1932 in Tokyo, also Kumi Kunitake ) was a Japanese scientist and historian ( Specialties Meiji and Taishō period). His son was the painter Kume Keiichiro.

Life

Kume was born the son of a follower in the feudal saga in the province of Hizen.

He accompanied in 1871 as secretary of a Japanese delegation led by Prime Minister Iwakura Tomomi and two other ministers on a two - year mission to Europe and the United States (so-called Iwakura Mission ). After his return, he worked for several years in Dajōkan. In 1878 he published a travelogue called Tokumei zenken taishi Beio Kairan Jikki in which he described his experiences of the Iwakura Mission. In March 1879, he obtained a position in Shūshikan, where he was involved in the compilation and publication of the official historical works. In October 1888 he received a professorship at the Imperial University of Tokyo. However, by publishing his critical essays Shinto Shinto wa no strings Kozoku he had to give up his position in March 1892.

After pontificating Kume at Rikkyo and Waseda University and devoted himself to the way of writing. One of his themes was the historical reinterpretation of Jindai myth, namely the dating of the mythological age of the kami in the established chronology of the history of science.

Kumes son Keiichiro studied painting in France, was successful upon return as a painter. Works by him are to be seen in Kume Museum of Art ( Tokyo). There the ( sparse ) Residues of Kunitakes be kept and shown documents travelogue at the Iwakura Mission. Kumes great-grandchildren Kunisada Kume was Ambassador to the Federal Republic.

Works (selection)

  • Tokumei zenken taishi In -O Kairan Jikki ( truthful report of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States and Europe), 5 volumes, Tokyo 1878 Facsimile edition in 5 volumes. Shuko Shobo, 1975
  • Reproduction in 5 volumes with modern characters. Iwanami Bunko 1977. Posted by Akira Tanaka

In translation:

  • Kume Kunitake: The Iwakura Mission. The Logbook of Kume Kunitake about the visit of the Japanese special legation in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 1873. Iudicium Verlag, Munich 2002, ISBN 3891297467, Web
  • Kume Kunitake. Healey, Graham and Tsuzuki Chushichi, eds. The Iwakura embassy, 1871-73: a true account of the ambassador extraordinary & plenipotentiary 's journey of observation through the United States of America and Europe ( 2002). ISBN 0-7007-1712-9 [ Complete Edition in 5 volumes ]
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