Refers to the study of organisms and natural objects, often in a descriptive or encyclopedic manner. May also appear in titles of classical or modern works.
Pliny's 'Natural History' is a compendium of ancient natural history.
He is interested in natural history and often collects specimens.
Compound of 博物 (はくぶつ, 'wide-ranging things') and 誌 (し, 'record' or 'chronicle'). The term is a calque from Western 'natural history' and has been used since the Meiji period.