Between universalism and regionalism: universal systematics from imperial Japan

Area of Science:

• History of Science
• Botany
• Science and Empire

Background:

• Historiography of science often centers on European perspectives when discussing the universality and regionality of scientific knowledge.
• This paper shifts focus to a non-European scientist, Nakai Takenoshin, to explore his engagement with these concepts.

Observation:

• Nakai Takenoshin, a Japanese botanist specializing in Korean flora, initially aligned with European universal science claims.
• He later developed and promoted his own regionally-based systematics, derived from Korean flora, as a new universal standard.

Findings:

• Universalism and regionalism were strategically employed by Nakai, not as contradictory, but as tools to bolster his scientific authority as a Japanese systematist.
• Nakai's claims were influenced by imperial contexts, with the study of Korean plants under Japanese rule shaping his systematic approach.

Implications:

• This case study challenges Eurocentric views in the history of science.
• It highlights how non-European scientists utilized and reshaped concepts of universalism and regionalism within imperial frameworks to establish scientific authority.