Philipp Franz Von Siebold

A German opened a clinic and cram school at Narutaki in the suburb of Nagasaki in Kyusyu Island in 1824. It was what they call the Narutaki jyuku where Dutch was taught. Many brilliant students came to study the Western medical science and Dutch from all parts of Japan. Among the students were Chouei Takano, Genboku Itou, and Seika Totsuka and etc. The lesson was given in German and the first clinical demonstration was held there. He, who was acquainted with about one hundred students and friends contributed to the progress of Dutch language in Japan greatly.

P.E.Siebold was born in Wurzburg, Germany in 1796. His grand father, Karl Kasper von Siebold a noted anatomist and surgeon, who was professor at the University of Wutzburg from1769 and established the school of surgery there.

P.E.Siebold studied medical science and folklore at Wutzburg and after graduating practiced medicine temporarily.

In 1822 he joined the East India Company of Dutch and was assigned doctor of the firm and was told to study the nature of Japan and the humanities.

At that time the Dutch retained their trading privileges with Japan when other nations were barred from intercourse with the country. They were confined however to the island of Deshima, near Nagasaki, but had to suffer many humiliations for the favors they enjoyed. It was through Holland that the Japanese obtained their knowledge of Western affairs during the long period of self -imposed isolation. The Dutch introduced Western medicine, mathematics, navigation, gunnery, and likewise it was through them or those in their employ like the German, P.F.Siebold, that the West learned a great deal of Japanese affairs, customs, flora and fauna. The Dutch also introduced to Europe many of the Japanese arts and crafts including hand -made paper, which Rembrandt is said to have preferred above all others for his drawings. It was also on information supplied by the Dutch that Common Perry was able to make his approaches to the Shogunate in 1853-4.

P.F.Siebold came to Nagasaki in1823 and wrote to his uncle not to return home without achieving his purpose in Japan. He collected massive material in all the fields of learning through his students instead of teaching them medical science and Dutch language as Engelbert Kaempfer had done before.

In 1826 P.F.Siebold accompanied chief of the firm at Deshima to Edo(present Tokyo)whose duty was to have audience with the Shogunate. P.F.Siebold met many scholars, doctors and government high officials and exchanged academic information with them.

In 1829 Kageyasu Takahashi in charge of astronomy and Genseki Habu, oculist were jailed on suspicion of breaking the national law by giving Siebold Japanese information and the former died because of sickness there. Many Dutch interpreters and scholars in relation to Siebold were also jailed. Siebold was also confined in Deshima for one year. Ine Kusumoto,who was Siebold' s illegimate became the first woman obstetrician in Japan by the help of Siebold's disciples after he left Japan.

Siebold published "Japan"," Fauna Japonica", and "Flora Japan" after he returned home and died in Wurzburg at the age of 70 in 1866. He greatly contributed to the progress of medical science and Dutch in Japan while Japan closed the door to foreigners for two centuries and a half. If he had not opened a cram school and clinic at Narutaki, the name would not be remembered among Japanese people. He is one of unforgettable people to Japan.