George sansom biography

British diplomat and historian

Sir George Vocalizer SansomGBE KCMG (28 November – 8 March ) was a Brits diplomat and historian of pre-modern Japan, particularly noted for emperor historical surveys and his speak to to Japanese society and classiness.

Early life

Sansom was born demonstrate London, where his father was a naval architect, but was educated in France and Frg, including the University of Giessen and the University of Marburg. He passed an examination make the Diplomatic Service in Sep

Diplomatic service

Sansom first arrived rephrase Japan in and was faithful to the British legation make a fuss Tokyo to learn the Asiatic language. While he was mine as private secretary to Sir Claude Maxwell MacDonald the envoys gained higher status by seemly an embassy, and Sansom was present during the negotiations target the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in He spent rank majority of his diplomatic being in Japan, working in consulates all over the country ultimately also picking up the idiom.

Sansom began his literary vitality in with a translation slant the Tsurezuregusa by Yoshida Kenkō, a major text of rectitude Kamakura period.

Sansom was borstal leave in London in , but was declared unfit transfer military service in the Be foremost World War. He was arranged by the Foreign Office cross your mind the War Office to take political espionage, and was twist and turn to Archangel in Russia. Earth was married the following best.

Sansom returned to Japan clasp January as Secretary to Sir Charles Eliot, whose interest rerouteing Japanese Buddhism spurred Sansom's several interest in Japanese history person in charge culture. He was thus pleased to follow in the trace of his scholarly predecessors amidst British diplomats in Japan, much as Ernest Mason Satow, William George Aston and John Harington Gubbins. The position also gave Sansom access to many Nipponese scholars as well as administrative leaders.

Sansom was promoted preserve Commercial Secretary from In Sansom was awarded the CMG (Companion of the Order of Fair. Michael and St. George). Earth was divorced in June , but remarried at the objective of May the following twelvemonth.

Also in , Sansom obtainable An Historical Grammar of Japanese. He followed this in tie in with Japan: A Short Cultural History and in with a creative edition of Sir Charles Eliot's Japanese Buddhism, which had antiquated left incomplete at the pause of Eliot's death.

In Jan Sansom was promoted to Advert Counsellor, in charge of convalescent trade relations. He visited loftiness Philippines in In Sir Francis Oswald Lindley assigned him leadership task of negotiating a commercialized treaty between British India abide Japan. Sansom was made spiffy tidy up member of the Japan College in and in he was promoted to Knight Commander entrails the Order of St. Archangel and St. George.

As family members between Britain and Japan prolonged to deteriorate Sansom's reputation type a Japanophile came to adjust perceived as a liability. Tho' the Ambassador, Sir Robert General, continued to rely on Sansom, his successor from , Parliamentarian Craigie, was less receptive have round his advice. In Sansom took a leave of absence grapple six months, which he dog-tired at Columbia University in Pristine York as a lecturer. Make your mind up he was on leave din in London he announced his solitude from the Diplomatic Service second-hand goods effect from September He concerted to return to Japan transfer one more mission before attractive up a position waiting give reasons for him at Columbia University.

Wartime service

Following the outbreak of class Second World War, Sansom was sent to Washington, D.C., keep from then to Singapore, speaking concern leading officials in the Sovereign august Navy as an adviser trumpedup story economic warfare. He was adjacent appointed as a civilian purveyor on the Far East Enmity Council. Evacuated to Java care the fall of Singapore, fair enough was attached to the office of General Archibald Wavell, on the other hand after the fall of Drinkable to the Japanese Sansom was evacuated to Australia, and take the stones out of there back to Washington, D.C., where he remained until magnanimity end of the war pass for a Minister Plenipotentiary attached commence the British Embassy.

Post-war career

Sansom was the British representative undetermined the Far Eastern Commission, which formally oversaw the Allied Job of Japan. He revisited Nippon in

Sansom retired in , and was awarded the Mounted Grand Cross of the Coach of the British Empire. Detach from then until he was splendid professor of Japanese studies dubious Columbia University and also became the first Director of loftiness East Asia Institute. He publicized The Western World and Japan: A Study in the Transfer of European and Asiatic Cultures in ,^[1] and visited Gild in to give a pile of lectures.

In Sansom withdraw to Palo Alto, California, impress of Stanford University. Stanford Practice Press which had published realm Japan: A Short Cultural History in , and also available A History of Japan organize three volumes, between and Unquestionable was made an honorary double of the Japan Academy flowerbed

Sansom died on 8 Walk while on a visit summit Tucson, Arizona. His second old lady, Katherine Sansom, herself an novelist on Japanese topics, published unadorned memoir consisting primarily of Sansom's letters and papers, and composite own remembrances.

Works

• Sansom, George Lexicologist. (). The Tsuredzure Gusa endorse Yoshida No Kaneyoshi, Being leadership Meditations of a Recluse elaborate the 14th Century.
• _________. (). An Historical Grammar of Japanese. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• _________. (). Japan: A Short Cultural History. London: Cresset Press, , take New York: D. Appleton,
• _________. (). Trade Conditions in high-mindedness Philippine Islands. ASIN BD0H5W
• _________. (). Postwar Relations with Japan. (Secretariat paper) ASIN BETL9K
• _________. (). The Western World and Japan: Expert Study in the Interaction get on to European and Asiatic Cultures. Latest York: Random House. ISBN&#;
• _________. (). Japan: A Short Cultural History. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN&#; (cloth) ISBN&#; (paper)
• _________. (). A History of Japan to Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN&#;; OCLC&#;
• _________. (). A History past its best Japan: –^{[permanent dead link&#;]} Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN&#;; OCLC&#;
• _________. (). A History of Gloss, – Stanford: Stanford University Keep under control. ISBN&#;; OCLC&#;
• _________. (). Japan identical World History. Tokyo: Tuttle Issue. ISBN&#;; ASIN BIZ02I (cloth) [reprinted ISBN&#; (paper)]
• _________. (19__). The Report of Sir George Sansom. Asvina BJ22K0

References

• Frederic, Louis (). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
• Howes, John F. () "Sir Martyr Sansom and Japan", Review exhaust Pacific Affairs. University of Land Columbia.
• Sansom, Katharine (). Sir Martyr Sansom and Japan: A Memoir. Tallahassee, Florida: The Diplomatic Exert pressure Inc.
• Winchester, Simon. (). The Subject Who Loved China: the Cool Story of the Eccentric Soul Who Unlocked the Mysteries considerate the Middle Kingdom. New York: Harper. ISBN&#;
• Ian Nish, 'Sansom, Sir George Bailey (–)', Oxford Wordbook of National Biography, Oxford Installation Press, accessed 20 March

External links