George Sansom facts for kids

Sir George Bailey Sansom (born November 28, 1883 – died March 8, 1965) was a British diplomat and historian. He is especially known for his deep knowledge of Japanese history and culture. He spent much of his life studying and working with Japan.

Early Life and Education

George Sansom was born in London, England. His father was a ship designer. George went to school in France and Germany. He studied at universities like the University of Giessen and the University of Marburg. In 1903, he passed an exam to join the British Diplomatic Service. This meant he would represent Britain in other countries.

A Career in Diplomacy

George Sansom first arrived in Japan in 1904. He worked at the British office in Tokyo to learn the Japanese language. He helped with important talks to renew the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1905. He spent most of his diplomatic career in Japan. He worked in different British offices across the country. This helped him learn the language and culture very well.

In 1911, Sansom began his writing career. He translated an old Japanese text called Tsurezuregusa. This book was written by Yoshida Kenkō during the Kamakura period.

During the First World War, Sansom was in London. He was not able to join the military. Instead, he worked for the government. He was sent to Russia to gather important information. He returned to Japan in 1920. There, he worked with Sir Charles Eliot, who was interested in Japanese Buddhism. This encouraged Sansom to learn even more about Japanese history and culture. He was able to meet many Japanese scholars and leaders.

Sansom became a Commercial Secretary in 1923. This role focused on trade. In 1926, he received an award called the CMG. This recognized his important work. He later became a Commercial Counsellor in 1930. His job was to improve trade between Britain and Japan. He also helped negotiate a commercial treaty between British India and Japan. In 1934, he became a member of the Japan Academy. The next year, he received another honor, becoming a Knight Commander.

As relations between Britain and Japan became difficult, Sansom's love for Japan was sometimes seen as a problem. Even so, he continued to be an important adviser. In 1935, he took a break and taught at Columbia University in New York. He decided to retire from his diplomatic work in 1940. However, he agreed to go back to Japan for one last mission.

Service During World War II

When the Second World War began, Sansom went to Washington, D.C. He then traveled to Singapore. He advised leaders on how to deal with economic challenges during the war. He was also part of the Far East War Council. After Singapore was captured, he went to Java. When Java also fell to the Japanese, Sansom moved to Australia. From there, he returned to Washington, D.C. He stayed there until the war ended. He served as a special representative for the British Embassy.

After the War

After the war, Sansom represented Britain on the Far Eastern Commission. This group helped oversee the Allied Occupation of Japan. He visited Japan again in 1946.

Sansom retired in 1947. He received a high honor called the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire. From 1947 to 1953, he taught Japanese studies at Columbia University. He also became the first director of the East Asia Institute. In 1949, he published a book called The Western World and Japan. He visited Japan in 1950 to give lectures.

In 1955, Sansom moved to Palo Alto, California. This is where Stanford University is located. Stanford University Press had published his book Japan: A Short Cultural History in 1931. They also published his three-volume series, A History of Japan, between 1958 and 1963. In 1951, he was made an honorary member of the Japan Academy.

Sir George Sansom passed away on March 8, 1965, while visiting Tucson, Arizona. His second wife, Katherine Sansom, who also wrote about Japan, published a book about his life. It included his letters and her memories of him.

Key Works

Sir George Sansom wrote many important books about Japan. Here are some of his well-known works:

• The Tsuredzure Gusa of Yoshida No Kaneyoshi (1911) - A translation of an old Japanese text.
• An Historical Grammar of Japanese (1928) - A book about the Japanese language.
• Japan: A Short Cultural History (1931) - A popular book about Japan's culture.
• The Western World and Japan: A Study in the Interaction of European and Asiatic Cultures (1949) - This book explored how Western and Asian cultures influenced each other.
• A History of Japan (three volumes, 1958-1963) - A detailed history of Japan.