The Origins of Human Geography in Japan

要旨

Some premises should be clarified before entering into a discussion on this theme, for opinions on the date of the formation of human geography in our present meaning can differ greatly not only in regards to the interpretation of facts but also in regards to differing stands taken with respect to the nature of human geography or, more *'enerally speaking, on the nature of geography.By this latter term, we can understand three meanings as follows : a description or an idiographic science dealing with any part of the earth's surface, an ecological science concerning the interrelation of anything on the earth's surface with the environment, and a nomothetic science concerning space organization.If we understand the term 'geography' to mean, in its etymological sense, a description of the earth, we can say that this kind of geographic knowledge existed and has always existed within human society.Perhaps the most fundamental form of geography is the description of an area in which a human group lives.Primarily, such geographical knowledge has a practical character.Primitive societies had their oral traditions regarding the territories they occupied.There existed many geographical description, put together by the order of rulers or merchants, for administrative or commercial purposes.In modern states this kind of geographical description for practical purposes has been replaced by statistics, maps, cadasters, and other documents or reports; it no longer has reason, in the modern meaning, for existence as a science for practical purposes.In Japan from ancient times there existed a longstanding tradition or geographical descriptions of the states or regions (fudoki and chishi)1 within the country.The failure of the project involving the compilation of the Kokoku-chishi at the end of the last century2 marks a symbolical change in the history of Japanese geography, in regards to the use of geographical knowledge for administrative or economic purposes.Nevertheless, we cannot ignore other aspects of geographical description.As in the European history of social thought,3 we can find many geographical descriptions in the writings of the enlightenment ideologists in the period of Japanese modernization after * Professor (Kyo Pju) of Social Geography.l As many people point out, there has been a strong Chinese infiuence on motives and styles in the compilation of geographical description (U.Tsujita, Nihon Kinsei no Chin aku, Kyoto, 1971, pp, 51-69).2 The history of the compilation of Kokoku-chishi and its scientific significance has been discussed at length

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