The Knowledge of Nature and the Nature of Knowledge in Early Modern Japan

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The book explores the evolution of natural history in Japan from the early seventeenth to the mid-nineteenth century, highlighting its emergence as a distinct discipline, honzogaku, that rivaled Western science. Federico Marcon argues that this field developed independently, challenging traditional beliefs and contributing to knowledge without direct Western influence. Instead of being suppressed, Japanese natural history adapted and transformed in response to Western science. This comprehensive study is vital for historians and those interested in the broader narrative of early modern science.