A Brill Calendar: June 19

Few exotic civilizations fascinated the young Kingdom of The Netherlands like Japan.

In the two centuries preceding this new-fangled European State came into being, Japan had made xenophobia a subtle art, allowing officials and personnel of the Dutch United East-India Company VOC strictly limited access to its mysteries; and a total one for other nations. Since 1641 a tiny artificial island in Nagasaki Bay, Deshima, served as a cage wherein bearded outsiders could be watched and kept under control.

After the demise of Napoleonic rule in Holland (and VOC bankruptcy), the Dutch colonial presence in the Far East, set on a national basis, increased dramatically.Adventurous youngsters were contracted, often regardless of nation and mother-tongue; and comprising, as usual, many German-speaking men, who had little difficulty in learning the related language.

But it is seldom that such a ‘mercenary’ proved to be a boon to Dutch curiosity. One such is a German physician, Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold (Würzburg 1796 – München 1866); a military surgeon who joined the Colonial Army on June 19 1822.

Although his task started at Batavia, Java, von Siebold was soon transferred to Japan, with the mission to supply to collections in Holland rare objects, including botanical specimens. He started to westernize Japanese medical care by teaching. While practicing, he refused to be paid in money for his services; but in kind: the kernel of what was to become an unparalleled collection.

Eventually, Von Siebold was banished from Japan, charged with spying and stealing maps. Arriving in 1831 at Leyden, the ‘thief’ was welcomed as national hero. His collection became the ‘big bang’ of a new way to appreciate exotic cultures and Japanology. When the ‘Royal Cabinet of Curiosities’ was transformed into its ethnographic successor, ‘habent sua fata musea’ is an apt quote. Leyden is still a fine place to study Japanese culture outside of Japan.