Author/compiler: Unknown. Attributed to Matsuda Dōi (Hisamoto) 松田道以 (久元), whose signature appears in a manuscript shikigo appended to this and other surviving copies of the work. Matsuda was an expert in the appraisal of swords, associated with the Hon'ami 本阿彌 school. Imprint: N.p., n.d., but published before Keichō 13 (1608), probably in the preceding year, 1607. (See dated shikigo transcribed below.). Description: 1 kan, 1 satsu. ff. [38] (printed) + [1] (flyleaf in manuscript), unnumbered. 25.8 x 18.3 cm. Fukurotoji. Movable type. Printing frame 21.7 x 15.3 cm. No borders. No printed hanshin. Hiragana-majiri text without reading marks. 11 lines to page. 16-19 characters to line. Original pale-buff covers, overprinted with a faint design in mica reminiscent of Kōetsu-bon 光悦本. Inner surface of covers thickly coated with gofun 胡粉, now flaking off. Part of original vermilion title slip remains, bearing lower half of manuscript gedai: [ ? ] densho □傳書. Title from naidai at head of text. In a modern brocade chitsu case. Edition: The only known edition printed with movable type. None of the extant copies has a printed colophon; all have a manuscript shikigo signed by Matsuda Dōi, dated variously 11th and 12th months Keichō 12 (1607) and 3rd and 4th months Keichō 13 (1608). Manuscript shikigo on end flyleaf recto reads: 慶長十三年 ／ 申ノ卯月吉日 ／ 松田道以久元 (花押), followed by the name Matsui Shichirōemon 松井七郎右衞門, partly obliterated, and a further line wholly deleted and illegible. The likelihood is that this work was published by Matsuda Dōi in a limited edition for selective distribution towards the end of Keichō 12, 1607. Contents: A work disclosing secret oral traditions on the evaluation of swords.
Kudensho 口傳書 [口伝書]
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- ReferenceGB 59 Or.64.b.21
- Dates of Creation1607
- Language of MaterialJapanese
- Physical Description1 volume Condition: Good, apart from some soiled lower margins and some water-staining in latter half of book. Impression: An impression from unworn type. Seals of ownership: Two square red seals, one reading Matsushita bunko 松下文庫, on first page of text. Manuscript notes: Notes in red beside names in genealogical tables, ff. [30-31] . Manuscript list of swordsmiths' names on end flyleaf verso. Note dated Tenpō 7 (1836) on inner back cover reads: 于時天保七丙申年 ／ 仲冬上旬求之 ／ 松下.
Scope and Content
Access Information
Not Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Acquisition Information
Acquired from Kōbunsō, 15 March 1974.
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 19. Military arts 武術
Bibliography
Kokatsujiban no kenkyū 古活字版の研究, pp. 406, 426, p1. 275; Ryūmon bunko zenpon shomoku 竜門文庫善本書目, p. 168; Kōbunsō kohanpon mokuroku 弘文荘古版本目録, p. 182; Obama bunko kisho chinpon tenkan nyūsatsu mokuroku 小汀文庫稀書珍本展観入札目録, pp. 45 (plate) and 71.