Top of page

Book/Printed Material Kaishū jigasan 海舟自画賛 / Title in Chinese reading: Haizhou zi hua zan

About this Item

Title

  • Kaishū jigasan

Other Title

  • 海舟自画賛
  • Title in Chinese reading: Haizhou zi hua zan

Translated Title

  • Self-Portrait of Katsu Kaishu

Summary

  • Presented here is a self-portrait by Katsu Kaishu (1823-99), who was a naval navigator and Japanese statesman during the Bakumatsu (the final years of the Edo period) and the Meiji Restoration. Born in Edo (present-day Tokyo), he studied in 1855-59 at the Navy Officer Training School in Nagasaki and mastered Dutch and Western military science. In 1860 he traveled to the United States as captain of the Kanrin-maru, Japan's first sail and steam-power corvette. He held several high naval administrative roles and opened the Naval Operation Training School in Kobe in 1864. Katsu was one of the most senior retainers from the Bakumatsu to continue to hold high office in the Meiji era; he was a member of the Chamber of Elders and a privy councilor. The gasan (inscription, in poetry or prose, added to a picture) that he wrote for this self-portrait includes this poem: "It is not in my disposition to fuss over details. Whether I am a counselor to the imperial court or an ordinary person outside of the government, in any situation, I see the world with an unclouded mind." It is believed that he wrote this when he left political office, but the date is unknown.

Names

  • Katsu, Kaishū, 1823-1899 Creator

Created / Published

  • [Place of publication not identified] : [Publisher not identified], [1850 to 1899]

Headings

  • -  Japan
  • -  1850 to 1899
  • -  Japan. Navy
  • -  Katsu, Kaishū, 1823-1899
  • -  Military administration
  • -  Politicians
  • -  Portrait drawings

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 drawing ; 28.5 x 19 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: National Diet Library.
  • -  Content in Japanese and Chinese.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.
  • -  Title revised per Asian Division.--cc28 2023-01-06

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021667504

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Katsu, Kaishū, Creator. Kaishū Jigasan. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, to 1899, 1850] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667504/.

APA citation style:

Katsu, K. (1850) Kaishū Jigasan. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, to 1899] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667504/.

MLA citation style:

Katsu, Kaishū, Creator. Kaishū Jigasan. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, to 1899, 1850] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667504/>.