Pathway to Japanese Literature
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Rangaku KotohajimeAuthor: Kikuchi Kan
| Original Title | 蘭学事始 |
|---|---|
| Author | 菊池 寛 |
| Genre | Popular Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In 18th-century Edo, as Dutch knowledge challenges centuries of tradition, two scholars collide in their quest for truth. Sugita Genpaku, a pragmatic physician, burns to revolutionize medicine through Western texts, while the austere Maeno Ryōtaku demands meticulous rigor in unraveling foreign science. Their uneasy partnership ignites when a smuggled anatomy book—*Tafel Anatomia*—reveals startling illustrations of the human body. A clandestine dissection of an executed criminal becomes their crucible: as organs mirror Dutch diagrams with uncanny precision, ancient medical doctrines crumble. Yet rivalry simmers—Genpaku races to publish translations for immediate use; Ryōtaku obsesses over linguistic purity. Amidst grueling debates and personal friction, their shared obsession bridges divides, forging a fragile alliance that could reshape Japan’s future. A tale of clashing ambitions, visceral discoveries, and the birth of a new era—where curiosity defies tradition, and truth demands sacrifice. |
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