Author/compiler: Asai Ryōi 淺井了意, d. 1691. Imprint: N.p., n.d. [Manji 万治 period, 1658-61] . No colophon. Description: 6 kan, 6 satsu, in a chitsu case. (Maki 1) ff. 37; (2) ff. 31; (3) ff. 33; (4) ff. 27; (5) ff. 30; (6) ff. 33. 26.7 x 18.8 cm. Fukurotoji. Blockprint. Printing frame varies between 20.8 and 21.5 x 16.5 cm. Double-line borders. No fishtail design on hanshin. Hiragana-majiri text, with printed furigana, dakuten and kutōten. 12 lines to page, 20-22 characters to line. Original mid-blue covers, with original printed title slips. Gedai: Tōkaidō (tsunogaki) meishoki 東海道 (角書) 名所記 + brief contents of each individual maki (e.g 江戸より大いそまで). Title from naidai at head of each maki. Hashiragaki: Dōkō 道行 + maki no. + folio no. Edition: This undated edition, without kanki, is the first and only pre-modern edition. The date of publication is likely to be soon after Manji 2-3 (1659-60), when the author completed his journey. Contents: Kana-zōshi novel in the guise of a meishoki (topographical guide book), based on the author's own experiences of travel along the Tōkaidō highway. It describes the journey of a monk, Rakuami, and his companion from Edo to Kyōto, bringing in comic incidents along the road, glimpses of popular life, kyōka and haikai poems, as well as providing much useful factual information and details of places of interest. In the same tradition as Chikusai 竹齋 and other travel books in fictional form.
Tōkaidō meishoki 東海道名所記
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- ReferenceGB 59 16107.g.24
- Dates of Creation[1658-1661]
- Language of MaterialJapanese
- Physical Description6 volumes Condition: Generally good. No worm damage, but soiled corners and stained folios in places. Impression: Atozuri, from slightly worn blocks. Illustrations: A total of 48 single- and double-page sumizuri illustrations: 11 in maki 1, 9 in maki 2, 10 in maki 3, 6 each in maki 4, 5 and 6. The pictures are lively and animated, accurately reflecting mid-17th century social life and clearly prefiguring the ukiyoe style. Probably the work of several artists; maki 4 in particular differs in style from all the rest. Seals of ownership: Small square red seal (unidentified) on mikaeshi of maki 3-6.
Scope and Content
Access Information
Not Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Acquisition Information
Acquired from Kōbunsō, 14 April 1958.
Other Finding Aids
Kenneth Gardner, Descriptive Catalogue of Japanese books in the British Library printed before 1700 (London and Tenri, 1993). C. Japanese works 和書 5. Literature - fiction 国文-小説 f. Kana-zōshi 仮名草子
Bibliography
Nihon koten bungaku daijiten 日本古典文学大辞典, vol. 4, p. 400; Edo bungaku zuroku 江戸文学図録, p. 6, pl. 15-7; Kohan chishi kaidai 古版地誌解題, pp. 139-43; Kazō Nihon chishi mokuroku 家蔵日本地誌目録, vol. 1, pp. 264-5.