Frederick Victor Dickins
Encyclopedia
Frederick Victor Dickins (1838–1915) was a British surgeon, barrister
, orientalist and university administrator. He is now remembered as a translator of Japanese literature
.
as a medical officer on HMS Coromandel
in 1863. For three years he was at Yokohama
in charge of medical facilities there. During this time he was in contact with Japanese doctors and culture, and also Ernest Satow who became a lifelong correspondent and friend. He began publishing English translations of Japanese classical works at this time. He left his naval position, returned to England and tried some career choices, but came back to Japan in 1871, having in the meantime married and been called to the Bar. He built up a legal practice in Japan. He was also widely involved with the Yokohama community, with botany, and journalism.
Dickins was especially interested in ferns which he collected at Yokohama and Atami, 1863–65. He sent both living plants and drawings back to J.D. Hooker at the Royal Botanic Gardens
at Kew
.
He returned to England in 1879. After spending some further time practicing law in Egypt
, he mostly devoted himself to Japanese studies and administration in the University of London
.
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, orientalist and university administrator. He is now remembered as a translator of Japanese literature
Japanese literature
Early works of Japanese literature were heavily influenced by cultural contact with China and Chinese literature, often written in Classical Chinese. Indian literature also had an influence through the diffusion of Buddhism in Japan...
.
Life
He first visited JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as a medical officer on HMS Coromandel
HMS Coromandel
Four ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Coromandel, after the Coromandel Coast of India: was a 56-gun fourth rate, previously the ex-Indiaman Winterton...
in 1863. For three years he was at Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
in charge of medical facilities there. During this time he was in contact with Japanese doctors and culture, and also Ernest Satow who became a lifelong correspondent and friend. He began publishing English translations of Japanese classical works at this time. He left his naval position, returned to England and tried some career choices, but came back to Japan in 1871, having in the meantime married and been called to the Bar. He built up a legal practice in Japan. He was also widely involved with the Yokohama community, with botany, and journalism.
Dickins was especially interested in ferns which he collected at Yokohama and Atami, 1863–65. He sent both living plants and drawings back to J.D. Hooker at the Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
at Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
.
He returned to England in 1879. After spending some further time practicing law in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, he mostly devoted himself to Japanese studies and administration in the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
Works
- The Collected Works of Frederick Victor Dickins (Bristol: Ganesha, Tokyo: Edition Synapse 1999) reprinted in seven volumes with an introduction by Peter KornickiPeter KornickiPeter Francis Kornicki FBA, is an English Japanologist. He is Professor of East Asian Studies at Cambridge University. He was previously Professor of Japanese History and Bibliography....
ISBN 978-1862100039
- Dickins co-authored a Life of Sir Harry ParkesHarry Smith ParkesSir Harry Smith Parkes was a 19th century British diplomat who worked mainly in China and Japan...
with Stanley Lane-PooleStanley Lane-PooleStanley Lane-Poole was a British orientalist and archaeologist. His uncle was Edward William Lane.Born in London, England, from 1874 to 1892 he worked in the British Museum, and after that in Egypt researching on Egyptian archaeology...
. Lane-Poole wrote the first volume on Parkes in China, Dickins the second volume on Parkes in Japan.
Letters to Dickins
- Sir Ernest Satow's Private Letters to W.G. Aston and F.V. Dickins edited by Ian Ruxton with an introduction by Peter KornickiPeter KornickiPeter Francis Kornicki FBA, is an English Japanologist. He is Professor of East Asian Studies at Cambridge University. He was previously Professor of Japanese History and Bibliography....
, Lulu Press Inc, February 2008 ISBN 978-1-4357-1000-9