Japan described in a 1755 Latin geographic treatise. Issues of translation and interpretation

Abstract

The book entitled Geographica globi terraquei synopsys, a multis praefertim quod Hungariam attinet, erronibus, qui in Celeberrimo alias Geographo Hùbnero, aliisque circumferuntur, expurgata, in qua omnium muldi Regionum, et locorum situs pro Mapparum Geographicarum usu exactissime describuntur has the following editorial data: Tyrnaviae , Typis Academicis, Societ. Jesu, anno MDCCLV), 353 pages and an index of 41 pages. What is of particular interest to us is the part that mentions Japan. The references to Japan are to be found, of course, in Pars tertia Asia. It starts with cap. I De Asia in genere (about Asia, in general), cap. II. De Imperio Turcico, cap. III. De Imperio Persico, cap. IV. De India, cap. V. De Tartaria Magna, cap. V. De China, and cap. VII. De insulis Asiaticis.

Keywords

• the book
• latin language
• japan
• geographic names
• proper names