Features Podcasts Family Video Comics Music Tech Science Books Film & TV Games ✚

@media screen and (max-width:400px){ body{ overflow-x:hidden; background:#ffffff !important; } #posts-loop *{ max-width:100% !important; } *{ max-width:320px; } #mobile_includes{ width:320px; margin-left:-16px; } #container{ padding-top:50px; } #cse-search-box { margin-right: 5px !important; } #dickbar { width:310px; } #metadataBox { overflow-x:hidden; } }

Anatomical illustrations from Japan's Edo period

Cory Doctorow at 10:16 pm Wed, Oct 13, 2010

Kindle

Rishab sez, "Here is a selection of old anatomical illustrations that provide a unique perspective on the evolution of medical knowledge in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868)."

Anatomical illustrations from Edo-period Japan (Thanks, Rishab!)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

MORE: anatomy • Art and Design • Science

More at Boing Boing

The technology that links taxonomy and Star Trek

Hackers prepare for first "national holiday" in their honor

function convosuiteLabeling(){ console.log('convosuiteLabeling'); google_ad_500_code = "<center><iframe src='http://boingboing.net/wp-content/themes/2012/ad_google_rect.html' width='410' height='290' scrolling='no' frameborder='no' style='margin:0;'></iframe><center>"; $('#ad_500').css('border-top', '1px solid #CCC'); $('#ad_500').css('border-bottom', '1px solid #CCC'); $('#ad_500').css('margin-bottom', '20px'); $('#ad_500').css('margin-top', '40px'); $('#ad_500_label').show(); if($('#ad_500').height() < 50){ $('#convosuite_ad').hide(); $('#google_ad_500').append(google_ad_500_code); console.log('Appending google ad code: '+google_ad_500_code); } } $(document).ready(function(){ // convosuiteLabeling(); setTimeout('convosuiteLabeling();', 3000); }); .fm-cs-ad { margin:18px 0px 18px 0px !important; max-width:514px; } ADVERTISEMENT

knoxblox

I wonder if the artist working for Kawaguchi couldn’t stomach looking at this for too long to significantly notice the distinct pattern of fissures in the cortex? At least he got the hemisphere division right.
Yamawaki’s artist seemed to have a better grasp of the fissure pattern.

I’m curious to know if medical journals happened to be traded along with other goods when the first foreign forays to Japan occurred, or if that kind of thing wasn’t sought after?
Gregory Goldmacher

Doesn’t look like there is any illustration of even basic things like lobes. The interhemispheric sulcus is the only accurate thing in the drawing.
hobartimus

Looks like a lasagna hat topped with spaghetti.
Brett Myers

Whew. This image gave me a shiver as I scrolled up. It’s not terribly detailed, but I can definitely picture the “patient” with his layers of head meat peeled back, posed for the drawing. Especially with the saggy facial features.
Elmo Gearloose

Wow! Inside of a Japanese skull is udon noodles?
Antinous / Moderator

Zaruuu sobaaaaaaaa! /zombie
Artimus Mangilord

The Hagakure was consulted on this:

“If you cut a face lengthwise, urinate on it, and trample on it in straw sandals, it is said that the skin will come off.”
foxtails

Before seeing this picture, it honestly never occurred to me why the brain was sometimes referred to as a noodle (e.g., “use your noodle”). I knew the shape of the brain, of course, but somehow never made the connection.
Agrajag

Anyone else having a sudden inexplicable craving for ramen?