338 植物研究雑誌第69 巻第5 号 平成 6 年 10 月

Carl Carl Peter Thunberg's Life ， Travels and Scientific Contributions

R. R. B. NORDENSTAM

Swedish Swedish Museum of Natural History P.O. P.O. Box 50007 ，S-10405 ，Stockholm ，SWEDEN

Linnaeus Linnaeus (1707-1778) ， the greatest Swedish sci- exercitio under Linnaeus and passed his academic entist entist of all times ， never travelled outside Europe ， but degrees quickly. In 1770 he gr :;t duated as a licentiate he sent his disciples on longjoumeys of exploration to and in the same year defended a doctoral dissertation remote remote and sometimes unknown parts of the world. under the medical professor Sidr 釦. Many of these Linnaean apostles suffered from hard- Linnaeus was instrumental in providing Thunberg ships ships of travels and tropical diseases and several of with a small travel grant for studies abroad. The them died in foreign countries. Carl Peter Th unberg destination was P 紅白， the medical centre of the world. became the most successful of these apostles. He Thunberg travelled via Copenhagen by the sea to survived survived a nine-year joumey to distant continents and Amsterdam ，where he visited Johannes and Nicolaas after after his retum to Sweden held the Linnaean chair in Laurens Burman ，father and son ， both friends 組 d Botany and Medicine at the University ofUppsala for correspondents of Linnaeus. 44 years. The Burmans were impressed with Th unberg's Carl Carl Peter Th unberg was bom on N ov. 11 ，1743 ， in knowledge in natural history and suggested that he thetownofJ 凸nk 凸ping in SouthemSweden ， the son of should go with a Dutch East Indiaman to some exotic a local tradesman and bookkeeper. He became father- destination. Th unberg consented gladly ， but had to go less less at the age of seven ， but his mother re-married through with the planned studies in Paris ，where he another another trader by name of Gabriel Forsberg and man- spent almost a year. In the meantime the destination aged to provide a decent upbringing to her two sons. had become defined to Japan ， the plants of which were Carl Carl Peter was meant to go into merchandise after a practically unknown in the Westem World and be- minimum of school attendance ， but his talents for lieved to be suitable for European gardens. studies studies were soon discovered. He passed all grades of Gardening was fashionable in Holland at the time ， the the local school and in 1761 he enrolled at the Univer- and exotic plants were much in demand. It was easy to sity sity of Uppsala. Having finished the compulsory find sponsors for the project ，and three patrons were courses courses in theology ， philosophy and public law he especially helpfu l. They were Jan van der Poll ， Daniel

specialized specialized in chemistry ， medicine and natural his- ten Hove and Daniel Deutz ，and all were later com 四 tory. tory. During his nine years of university studies he memorated in genera described by Thunberg. Po l/i α， naturally naturally came in contact with Li nnaeus ，who soon H ovenia and Deutzia are all known in horticulture ， took took notice of the talented young student with a and especially the deutzias 訂 e garden favourites with specialliking specialliking for natural history. a large number of species ， hybrids and cultivars. In In 1767 Thunberg defended a medical thesis pro Since 1635 Japan was closed tothe Westem World October October 1994 Joumal of Japanese Botany Vo l. 69 No. 5 339 except except Holland and China ，and in Thunberg's days and the Company' s garden ，which supplied fruits and only only Dutch ships were allowed to visit with two ships vegetables to the seafarers. The Cape of Good Hope a year. Th unberg had to appear as a Dutchman ， and for was generally regarded as the southemmost point of this this purpose it was decided ，that he should spend some Africa. The contempor 訂 y maps are deficient in this years years at the Dutch Colony at the Cape ， to learn the respect and generally poor. Sparrman' s map ，drawn in language ， but also to explore the flora of South Africa. 1775-76 and published in his travelogue (1783) ，is Ar ound New Year 1772 Thunberg sailed from more accurate and clearly shows Cape Agulhas as the Holland Holland as an extra surgeon on board the “ Schoonzigt" southemmost poin t. in in a convoy of four ships. The voyage lasted three and Thunberg was soon familiar with Table Mountain ， a half months ，and 115 men died on Thunberg' s ship which he climbed altogether 15 times. He also made on the way. This may seem a large figure ， but it was a longer excursion in June to the wine districts of Paarl quite quite normal to lose perhaps one third of the crew and andPrench Hoek ，where Prench Huguenots had planted soldiers ，who were to a large extent recruited by vinyeards already in the 17th century. Wh en spring- obscure obscure methods and often in a poor health condition. time approached Thunberg prepared for his first long Soon after embarkment Thunberg and the officers expedition in the Colony ，by ox carts and on horse- on board had the misfortune to be poisoned ，when the bac k. He travelled with three European companions cook by mistake mixed white lead in the pancakes. (the Company's gardener J. A. Auge and two young Nobody died from this mishap ， but Thunberg was officers) as well as two domesticated Hottentots. The very very sick ， having eaten one of the last pancakes ，rich p訂 ty set out in the beginning of September when in in lead. Although Th unberg eventually recovered spring flowers abounded everywhere in the plains from the poisoning ，he afterwards suffered from stom- after rich winter rains. ach ach troubles all his life. Characteristically ，Th unberg The expedition ，which lasted four months ，first recorded recorded thoroughly the effects and after-effects of went north but soon southeastwards to Swellendam ， the the poisoning in an article published in 1773 by the from where they eastwards continued in the Colony. Swedish Academy of Sciences - his first scientific Travelling was dangerous in many areas; roads and publication. publication. tracks were bad ，and wild life was abundant ， in some

On April 16 1772 the ship anchored in Table Bay ， 訂 eas including lions ，leopards ，buffaloes ，rhinoes and and on the following day Thunberg could go ashore. elephants. In a wood ne 訂 Knysna they were attacked By coincidence his compatriot and friend Anders by a buffalo bull killing two horses and chasing the Sparrman arrived simultaneously on board a Swedish men up the nearest trees. Eventually they reached the East East Indiaman. Th ey spent some time together at the eastem border of the Colony at Gamtoos River ，where Cape ， but they soon parted ，Sparrman going with hippos were frequent. Hottentots and Caffres lived Captain Captain Cook on his second voyage to the South Seas. there together ，and beyond the river lay the unex-

Wh en Spar 百 nan retumed three ye 訂 slater to explore plored Caffir country. the the Cape ，Thunberg had recently departed and was on They tumed back along partly new tracks ，and his his way to Java and Japan. after New Year 1773 they were back in Cape Town ， Thunberg spent the winter at the Cape ，getting where Thunberg remained until next spring. He was acquainted acquainted to Cape Town and its immediate sur- busy with his specimens and dispatched generous roundings. roundings. The settlement was still rather modest ， the p征 cels of dried plants ， bulbs and seeds to his friends most conspicuous features being the citadel ，the church ， and benefactors in Holland and Sweden ，including 340 植物研究雑誌第69 巻第5 号 平成 6 年 10 月 his his mentor Linnaeus. lowerkarooareas. JustbeforetheNew YearThunberg 1n 1n September a new expedition was prepared ， and and his party was back in Cape Town. as as fellow traveller Thunberg now had the English Thunberg's stay at the Cape came to an end ， and gardener gardener Francis Masson ，who had a fine cart and a in March 1775 he could continue towards his final European European coachman. They also took saddle-horses destination ， Japan. On the way he stayed one month in and and four Hottentots along. Again they joumeyed Java ，where he mixed with the European colonists ， northwards northwards and traversed rivers and mountains with made excursions ， and bought unicom (i. e. ， narwhal) difficulty. difficulty. Following a similar route as on the first homs ，which could be sold with profit in Japan. joumey they arrived 剖 Swellendam and from there 1n August he arrived in the harbour of Nagasaki ， proceeded proceeded eastwards. This time they crossed the where all foreign visitors were confined to the little Gamtoos River and reached as far as Sundays River ， islet called Deshima. His freedom of movement was north north of present -day Port Elizabeth. Among the abun- very limited ， and only after half a year he managed to dant dant wild life there were also quaggas ，now extinc t. get a temporary permit to make excursions in the For For safety reasons Thunberg enforced his party with surroundings of Nagasaki. a troop ofHottentots ， and at times they were more than 1n 1776 Thunberg was allowed to join the Dutch one one hundred persons. European colonization was legation on its annual visit to the shogun's court in prohibited prohibited in this area ， but Thunberg nevertheless Edo ，which is now Tokyo. They travelled mainly by found found a farmer who had settled illegally in the area. norimon (palanquin) along good main roads ， and the They retumed along a more northerly route than on joumey lasted four months. Along the road Thunberg the the first joumey ，and from a mountain peak Thunberg could make many collections and observations ，e.g. at could could get a view of the wide and barren semidesert Hakone mountain. He was delighted and impressed now called the Great Karoo. They retumed to Cape by the Japanese culture and way of life ，which he Town in the end of J anuary 1774 ， and Thunberg again described as a well ordered society ，which seemed to became occupied with his collections. work smoothly and to everyone' s satisfaction. He The next winter was very cold ， Table Mountain could not discem the ongoing political and economic was white with snow and hail some days ， and vegeta- decline ，which was skilfully concealed by the govem-

bles bles and grape 四 vines froze to death. Nevertheless ， men t. Thunberg kept his habit of making short excursions in 1n Edo Thunberg met with many learned Japanese the the vicinity. He also started preparations for a third scholars ， with whom he had daily conversations. long long expedition in the Cape Colony and persuaded Especially the medical doctors were interested to Masson to join him once again. On the 29th of acquaint themselves with Westem medicine and natu- September September they started on a northbeund track ， but this ral history. Th unberg held regular courses with some time time they went much further than previously ， to the of these scholars and gave them diplomas before his

Bokkeveld and Roggeveld mountainous areas ，where departure. With some of them he kept a co 町 espond- they they explored botanically unknown territory. The ence long after his retum to Sweden. weather weather was rough ， and they had frost and snow even 1n this way Thunberg may have exercised an in in the summer month of Decembe r. There were only influence on the Japanese society ，more far-reaching few settlers in this inhospitable area and they were than mere scientific knowledge. His Westem ideas partly partly nomadic ， in summer growing wheat in the may have catalyzed the historical processes in Japan ， mountains ， but in winter grazing their cattle in the which eventually led to the Meiji restoration and the October October 1994 Joumal of Japanese Botany Vo l. 69 No. 5 341

Portraits Portraits of Carl Peter Th unberg and title page of his F lor α japonica (1784). 342 植物研究雑誌第69 巻第5 号 平成 6 年 10 月 end end of the long isolation of the country. Academy of Sciences for 56 years ， but only reluc- The audience for the shogun took place on the 18th tantly did he go to the meetings in Stockholm ， and he of of May 1776 ， but Thunberg was not allowed to be was President of the Academy only once ， in 1784. presen t. However ， the shogun was apparently curious The Swedish king Gustav III was benevolent to about about the visitors and is said to have appe 訂 edincog- Thunberg and in 1784 set aside a piece of the royal nito nito among them to watch them more closely. g訂 den in Uppsala for a new botanic g訂 den and had The retumjoumey to Nagasaki followed the same a new museum erected on the site. This was inaugu- route ， and after 16 months in Japan ，Thunberg was rated in 1807 ， and the building still houses the Th unberg ready ready to embark on his homeward voyage. He visited Herbarium. The king also made Th unberg a Knight of J ava and Ceylon on his way and spent about half a year the Order ofVasa ， and thirty years later a Commander in in each island. He also made a brief visit at the Cape of the same order ，a very rare honour not pteviously and and arrived in Holland after four and a half months. bestowed on any academic teacher. Having concluded the business with the Company Th unberg in 1785 donated his history natural col- and and visited benefactors and friends ， he went to Lon- lections to the University ofUppsala ，where they were don in December ，where he was warmly received by especially welcome ， since the invaluable Li nnaean Sir Sir Joseph Banks and by his friend and compatriot collections had recently been sent to England. Daniel Daniel Solande r. Via Holland ，Germany and a to visit Beside all his scientific publications Th unberg the the university of Greifswald ，Thunberg came back to published a travel book on his joumeys in four vol- Sweden in March 1779 ，after nine years of travelling. umes. The Swedish original appeared between 1788 After After his safe retum home Thunberg became re- and 1793 and was soon translated into English ，Ger- markably markably stationary. He had been appointed Demon- man and French. strator strator at the Botanical Garden in Uppsala under the On his way home from Japan Thunberg had de- younger younger Linnaeus ，who held the chair after his fathe r. clined an offer to maηy a rich and beautiful girl ， and When Linnaeus went to London in 1781 Thunberg he remained a bachelor until 1784. In that year he was acting for him ，and in the same ye 訂 he was married the daughter of the university accountant appointed appointed associated Professor of Botany ， with an Ruda ， in whose house Thunberg had served as a increase increase in salary. After the death of the younger private teacher during his university studies. The Li nnaeus Thunberg was appointed to the chair which marriage was childless ， but two young relatives were had been held by “ four most celebrated men ，two adopted ，viz. a daughter Birgitta Elisabeth ， and a son Rudbecks and two Linnaeus" ， using Thunberg's own Per ，who became a farme r. A third relative ， Carl Peter words ， and he kept this position his until death. Forsberg ，lived as a son with the Thunbergs ， but kept Thunberg continued to work on his collections and his family name. He became a favourite ofThunberg' s， publish publish on many subjects during all his long life. His who helped him to a medical doctor's degree and a main interests were the floras of South Africa and position as ‘botanices demonstrator' at the Botanical Japan ， but he also wrote of insects ，birds ，fishes ， Garden. reptiles ，mammals ，minerals ， Japanese coins ，Swed- Thunberg was a generous ，good-hearted person ， ish ish husbandry and so forth. He became with popular who cared also for his servants ，relatives and friends ， students students and took part in academic life ，e.g. as vice- especially when they were in economic trouble. His chancellor chancellor of the university four times. own financial circumstances were never bright ， and at Thunberg was a member of the Royal Swedish one stage he was compelled to sell his private library ， October October 1994 Joumal of Japanese Botany Vo l. 69 No. 5 343 and he also considered selling his insect collection to Thunberg' s scientific strength was his disceming St. St. Petersburg. He has been described as a happy ， eye and descriptive capacity. ‘God created ，Li nnaeus

lively lively and friendly person with a genuinely honest ordered ，Th unberg described' - to paraphrase a sen 幽 character. character. In his older days he became stone-deaf and tence of Linnaeus. Th unberg contributed substan- was sometimes smiled at ，when he appeared in an old- tially to the younger Linnaeus' work Supplementum

fashioned fashioned outfit in his antiquated horse-cart nick- plantarum ，which was based on his father's unfin 幽 named “Skallerormen" (the rattle-snake). Wh en he ished Mantissa tertia. During the summer 1779 died died in 1828 at the age of 85 ，he was sincerely Th unberg worked intensely with the younger Linnaeus moumed and solemnly honoured. to complete the work ，which was published in 1782

Most of Th unberg' spublications deal with botany ， (1 781 according to the title-page). Thunberg contrib 開 particularly the particularly flora of South Africa and Japan ， in a uted almost 500 new species from the Cape as well as seemingly seemingly unending row of publications. Thunberg several from the East Indies and Japan. However ，he followed followed closely the method ofLinnaeus ，although he never got the credit for describing these scientific ventured ventured to introduce a change in the sexual system. novelties ，since they are all cited with Linne filius as Instead Instead of the 24 classes of Linnaeus ，Th unberg autho r. recognized recognized only 20 ， but this innovation was adopted Thunberg then concentrated on Japanese plants by very few botanists and soon forgotten. and in 1784 published his Flora japonica ，a funda-

Hypericum japonicum Thunb. ，illustration in Flora japonica (l eft) and original specimen in the Swedish Museum of of N atural History ， Stockholm. 344 344 植物研究雑誌第69 巻第5 号 平成 6 年 10 月 mental mental work which soon became an indispensable scientist of his time. He was a member of 65 acad- classic. classic. It was a critical and comprehensive flora ， emies and learned societies and he kept an extensive summarizing the knowledge of the vascular plants of correspondence with colleagues in many countries ， Japan ，and containing much new information. The including Japan. Th unberg laid the solid foundation work was preceded by a critical examination and for taxonomic botany in South Africa and Japan ，and analysis analysis of Engelbert Kaempfer's Japanese plants ， he is sometimes called 'The Father of South African

collected collected in 1690-92 and which Thunberg had stud 阿 botany' ， or the ‘ Linnaeus of Japan'. Today the im- ied ied in London on his way home from the long voyage. portance of taxonomy is more widely understood than Flora Flora japonica. contained 39 copper engravings perhaps one or a few decades ago. The need for basic of of plants ，and Thunberg aimed at publishing a lot knowledge of the biodiversity and its components is more illustrations. His 1 cones plantarum japonicarum ， emphasized in many disciplines ofbiological science ， which appeared in five fascicles between 1794 and and is a prerequisite in conservation. We owe much to 1805 ， contained 50 plates ， mainly copper engravings ， Th unberg ，and we have to continue in his footsteps. but but some were produced in the newer technique of Let me conclude with the often cited words by the aquatin t. Thunberg had many hundreds more draw- South African botanist Peter MacOwan ， formulated

ings ‘which remained unpublished. more than a centuηago: “Nevertheless ， as long as in Altogether Altogether Thunberg described 74 new genera ， our paradise of flowers there wanders a single bota- and about 40 of these are still valid. Some are South nist ， so long will the name of Th unberg be held in African African genera with such an isolated taxonomic posi- honoured remembrance". tion tion to merit their treatment as separate families: Achariaceae ，Hydnoraceae ，Montiniaceae ，Oliniaceae ， References Retziaceae Retziaceae and Vahliaceae. Linne Carl von (fi I.) 1782. Supplementum plantarum. Brunsvigae. Brunsvigae. New species described by Th unberg 担 nount to MacOwan P. 1887. Persona Ii a of botanical coIIectors at the about about 1880 ， plus the ca. 500 which he contributed to Cape. Trans. S. Af r. Phi l. Soc. 4: xxx-1iii. Sparrman Sparrman A. 1783. Resa TiII Goda Hopps-Udden ， Sodra the the Supplementum plantarum (Linne fi l. 1782). Polkretsen Och Omkring Jordklotet ， Samt tiII Hottentott- Thunberg was also an eminent zoologist ，particularly och Caffer-Landen ， Aren 1772-76. 1. Stockholm. Thunberg Thunberg C. P. 1784. FIora japonica. Lipsiae. entomologist ，and his name as original author is 一一一一一ー 1788-93. Resa uti Europa ，Africa ，Asia ，forrattad attached attached to mammals ，birds ，reptiles ，fishes ，and in- Aren 177 0- 1779. 1 -4. Upsala. (AIso French ，English ，Ger- man and Dutch editions). sects ， mainly from South Africa. 一一一一一 179 4- 1805. Icones plantarum japonicarum ，Decas 1- Thunberg became the most well-known Swedish 5. Upsaliae.