Founding of the Seimi School - Seimikaisou

Japan's first systematic chemistry book. Translated by Udagawa Yoan. Most of it is written in kana, and consists of six internal parts (each in three volumes, totaling 18 volumes) and one external part (3 volumes). It was published in manuscript form between 1837 and 1847 (Tenpo 8 to Koka 4). Its contents incorporate the results of the Lavoisier chemical system of the late 18th century, as well as the electrochemistry of Davy and Berzelius, up until the 1820s. However, it contains almost no ideas on atoms and atomic weights proposed by Dalton (1803). The internal parts are theoretical chemistry, with volume 1 being an overview of chemical affinity, changes of state, caloric elements, etc., volumes 2 to 9 being inorganic compounds and nonmetals such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, water, and ammonia, volumes 10 to 15 being the same metals, volumes 16 to 18 being organic compounds (plants), and the work ends with chapter 295 on wax. The outer volume is about applied chemistry, such as mineral spring analysis methods. Furthermore, unpublished manuscripts still exist, including chapters 296 and after of inner volume 18, volumes 19-21 (animal chemistry, beginning with chapter 310 on glue), and outer volume 4-5 (analysis of minerals, etc.) and volume 6 (analysis of reagent purity, etc.). The original text of "Semi Kaisō" is believed to be a German translation of "An Epitome of Experimental Chemistry" (first published in 1801, later renamed "Element of Experimental Chemistry", sixth edition in 1810) by the British author W. Henry, which was further translated into Dutch by Adolf Ijpeij (1749-1820) as "Chemie, voor beginnende Liefhebbers" (1803).

In addition, 24 Dutch books, including the Dutch translation of Lavoisier's Outlines of Chemistry (1800), Ipey's Ishikougi (1804-1812), and F. van Catz Smallenburg's Soshi Seimi (1827-1833), as well as Japanese and Chinese books, are referenced and cited, and Yoan also includes a record of his own experiments. In that sense, this work is not just a translation, but a research book. Many of its terms (e.g., element, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, acid, alkali, substance, combustion, oxidation, reduction, temperature, saturation, etc.) are still in use today, and it has had a great impact on chemistry in Japan.

[Taoist Master]

"The Founding of the School of Science" edited by Minoru Tanaka (1975, Kodansha)" ▽ "Research on the Founding of the School of Science" by Masao Sakaguchi and others (1975, Kodansha)" ▽ "The Dawn of Science in Japan" by Tatsumasa Doka (1981, Iwanami Shoten)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本初の体系的化学書。宇田川榕菴(ようあん)の訳述。大半が仮名交じり文で、内篇(へん)六篇（各篇3巻、計18巻）、外篇1篇（3巻）からなる。1837～1847年（天保8～弘化4）に順次、稿なり刊行された。その内容は、18世紀末のラボアジエ化学体系、さらにデービーやベルツェリウスの電気化学など1820年代までの成果を取り入れている。しかしドルトン提唱（1803）の原子・原子量の考えはほとんどない。内篇は理論化学で、巻1は総論として化学親和力、状態変化、熱素など、巻2～9は酸素・窒素・水素・水・アンモニアなど無機化合物非金属、巻10～15は同金属、巻16～18は有機化合物（植物）が書かれ、295章蝋(ろう)で終わる。外篇は応用化学で、鉱泉分析法などである。さらに未刊の稿本として、内篇巻18の296章以下と巻19～21（動物化学、310章膠に始まる）、および外篇巻4～5（鉱物などの分析法）、巻6（試薬の純度などの分析法）などが現存する。『舎密開宗』の原書は、イギリスのW・ヘンリー著『An Epitome of Experimental Chemistry』（1801初版、のち『Element of Experimental Chemistry』と改題、1810第六版）のドイツ語訳書を、さらにイペイAdolf Ijpeij（1749―1820）がオランダ語訳した『Chemie, voor beginnende Liefhebbers』（1803）ものであるとされる。

　このほか、ラボアジエの『化学綱要』のオランダ語訳本（1800）、イペイの『依氏広義(いしこうぎ)』（1804～1812）、スマルレンブルグF. van Catz Smallenburgの『蘇氏舎密(そしせいみ)』（1827～1833）など24冊の蘭(らん)書、さらに和漢の書が参考、引用され、また榕菴自身が行った実験記録も書かれている。その意味で本書は、単なる訳書ではなく、研究書といえる。その用語（たとえば、元素、酸素、水素、窒素、酸、アルカリ、物質、燃焼、酸化、還元、温度、飽和など）の多くが今日も使われており、わが国の化学に与えた影響は大きい。

［道家達將］

『田中実校注『舎密開宗』（1975・講談社）』▽『坂口正男他著『舎密開宗研究』（1975・講談社）』▽『道家達將著『日本の科学の夜明け』（1981・岩波書店）』

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