The Library currently has trial access to two primary source databases from Adam Matthew, Area Studies: China and Southeast Asia and Area Studies: Japan. These provide digital access to primary source materials spanning more than 500 years, selected from the extensive microfilm back catalogue of Adam Matthew Publications.

You can access both the databases via the E-resources trials page.
Access is available both on and off-campus.

Trial access ends 12th November 2018.

Area Studies: China and Southeast Asia

This database provides you with access to a vast array of Western perspectives and sources on China and Southeast Asia spanning several centuries, from the first British mission to China in 1792-1794 through to the mid 20th century.

This includes a wide collection of records of traders, travellers, missionaries & diplomats from 1742 until 1942, offering western perspectives on all aspects of Chinese culture and society. As well as British government records covering economic development in China, Hong Kong, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan from 1950-1980.

Area Studies: Japan

This database provides you with a wide range of sources – by writers, diplomats, tourists, businessmen, missionaries and others – documenting the political, cultural and social history of Japan from 1400 to the 20th century.

Highlights from this database include:

• Illuminated medieval manuscripts relating to Japan, including an account by Marco Polo
• Log book of William Adams (1564-1620), alias Miura Anjin, the first Englishman known to have visited Japan
• The journals of US Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry and officers, relating to the momentous voyages of 1853-54 and the ‘opening up’ of Japan
• Letters of Sir Harry Parkes, diplomat and British Minister to Japan between 1865 and 1883.
• Journals of William Elliot Griffis (1843-1928), American orientalist, author and education reformer in Japan

The Library already  holds some of the material included in these two databases on microfilm, in particular China through Western Eyes and Japan through Western Eyes, so we’re interested to get feedback on the digital versions.

You can access both the databases via the E-resources trials page.
Access is available both on and off-campus.
Trial access ends 12th November 2018.
Feedback welcome.

Access is only available to current students and staff at University of Edinburgh.

Caroline Stirling – Academic Support Librarian for History, Classics and Archaeology