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William George AstonBritish diplomat and orientalist
Date of Birth: 09.04.1841
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Early Life and Diplomatic Career
- Contribution to British-Korean Diplomacy
- Scholarly Contributions
- - "A Short Grammar of the Japanese Spoken Language" (1869)
- Legacy and Collections
William George Aston: A Distinguished British Diplomat and Japanologist
Early Life and Diplomatic Career
William George Aston (1841-1911) was a British diplomat and orientalist who played a significant role in the development of British Japanology. In 1866, he arrived in Japan as a translator for the British diplomatic mission and served in various diplomatic capacities until 1889. His appointments included vice-consul in Tokyo (1875) and consul in Nagasaki (1882).
Contribution to British-Korean Diplomacy
After leaving the diplomatic service, Aston worked on the preparation of the Anglo-Korean Treaty of Friendship and Commerce. He served as British Consul-General in Korea from 1884 to 1885, fostering diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Scholarly Contributions
Aston was a prolific scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Japanese and Korean languages and literature. His publications include:
- "A Short Grammar of the Japanese Spoken Language" (1869)
- "A Grammar of the Japanese Written Language" (1872)- "Comparative Study of the Japanese and Korean Languages" (1879)
- "A History of Japanese Literature" (1899)
Works on Shinto and Historical Texts
Aston also authored two books on Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan. Additionally, he translated the medieval Japanese historical chronicle "Nihon Shoki" into English, published in 1896.
Legacy and Collections
Aston's extensive collection of Japanese books was donated to Cambridge University. His collection of Korean publications was acquired by the Museum of Asia in St. Petersburg, Russia. His legacy as a diplomat and scholar continues to inspire generations of researchers in the fields of Japanese and Korean studies.
