Travels to Real and Imaginary Lands: Two Lectures on East Asia

A study on East-West cultural relations grounded in the author's rare philological skills in both East Asian and European languages, this volume deals with the description of Japan and China by sixteenth-century Florentine merchant Francesco Carlotti, and with the influence on Chinese poetry of the imaginary "Land of Parrots" reported in European maps. Also includes an appendix, "Francesco Carlotti on Slavery and Oppression" by Antonino Forte.

This volume is part of a series by the Italian School of East Asian Studies (ISEAS) research institute, which focuses on the history, culture, literature, and religion of East Asia. Unless otherwise noted, all books are primarily in English, with references in Chinese and Japanese for important terms, concepts and bibliographical sources throughout.