Oliphant, L.

...The source of this view was E. Kaempfer's "History of Japan" (1727), who was based in Dejima at the end of the 17th century. This view of Japan was supported by the 19th century Western European belief that the Orient was in "eternal stagnation," and was further strengthened by the publication of "The Records of Lord Elgin's Mission" (1859) by Laurence Oliphant (1829-88), who was the plenipotentiary for the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce negotiations. However, after that, when a sudden change occurred in Japanese society, Japan was seen as a "mysterious country," and this eventually became a fixed idea that took root in British society. ...

*Some of the terminology that mentions "Oliphant, L." is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…その典拠とされたのが，17世紀末に出島にいたE.ケンペルの《日本誌》(1727)であった。このような日本観は，〈東洋の永遠の停滞〉という，19世紀西欧に特有の信念に支えられ，さらに日英通商条約交渉の全権随員オリファントLaurence Oliphant(1829‐88)による《エルギン卿使節録》(1859)の出版によって強化された。しかしその後，日本社会の急変という事態が生じると，日本は〈神秘の国〉とみなされ，やがてこれが固定観念となってイギリス社会に根を下ろすのである。…

※「オリファント，L.」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報