著者

坂西 友秀

出版者

埼玉大学教育学部

雑誌

埼玉大学紀要 〔教育学部〕 教育科学 (ISSN:03879321)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.51, no.2, pp.73-95, 2002

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We conducted research on the interactions and relations between Japan and European countries from the 16th to 18th centuries by analyzing diaries, old writings, and old manuscripts with the following perspectives:1. The Japanese perspective on both Westerners and Blacks before National Isolation.2. The Japanese perspective on Blacks before National Isolation.3. The Japanese perspective on both Westerners and Blacks during the Era of National Isolation. Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi was very surprised and delighted to see the gorgeous parade of missionaries who were sent to Japan by the vice president oflndia in 1590 as the Portuguese delegation. In the late 16th Century, the Shogun banished foreign missionaries in order to eliminate their work in Japan, but he continued trade between Japan and Portugal. In general, foreign people who stayed in Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries tended to give a poor impression to Japanese citizens. The Japanese watched them everywhere as they were very different from the Japanese. They looked strange to the Japanese, spat even in the houses, walked in the houses with their boots on, ate beef, and did many other things that appeared strange to the Japanese. Most Japanese considered Westerners to be ill mannered and prudish because much of their conduct conflicted with Japanese culture. People living in Nagasaki, which was one of the most important port towns at that time, feared the foreign traders would buy Japanese women and children to sell as slaves to other Asian and Western countries. Blacks were regarded as slaves, and looked down on as inferior people by the Japanese. The people of the port town might already have had ethnic stereotypes toward Blacks in the 16th century. It was not until the end of the Edo era that problems concerning trade, military, and foreign affairs become important psycho-historical background factors influencing relations between Japanese and Westerners.