Western Influence on Astronomical and Land-survey Instruments of the Edo Period

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Western influence on astronomical and land-survey instruments of the Edo periods was investigated at both domestic and overseas sites. The main outcomes are as follows:(1) We made a nation-wide survey investigation of octants and sextants produced or imported before the Meiji Restoration (1868). We found out 10 items including some new discoveries and made mutual comparisons in terms of their specifications and characteristics.(2) We made clear the import situation in 1792 of an advanced portable astronomical quadrant by discovering some letters written by the then director of the Dutch East India Company at Nagasaki.(3) We organized the 7th International Conference on Oriental Astronomy (ICOA-7) and published its conference proceedings.