The 1830s Japanese reception of animal magnetism

Record summary

Reports and translations of European animal magnetism entered Japan through Rangaku networks during the nineteenth century, where ideas about magnetic influence, induced sleep and unusual sensitivity could intersect with existing healing traditions. This is a useful cross-domain lead for comparing mesmerism with Buddhist trance, spirit possession and later hypnosis. The relevant evidence is distributed across translated medical works, encyclopedias and Meiji histories rather than one canonical experiment. Researchers should establish which texts actually discuss magnetism and which are retrospective summaries.