Author/compiler: Yūkan 融觀, patriarch of the Yūzū Nenbutsu sect, 1649-1716. Imprint: [Kyōto] , Asano Kyūbē, Genroku 13, 1700. Kanki on fol. 46b of maki 下 reads: 元祿十三辰仲春吉旦 ／ 書林 淺野久兵衛. Description: 2 kan, 2 satsu, in a chitsu case. (Maki 上) ff. 1 (tobira), 2-9 (author's preface), 10-47 (honmon 本文); (maki 下) ff. 1-44, 45-46 (kōjo 後序). 27.3 x 19 cm. Fukurotoji. Blockprint. Printing frame 19.6 x 14.6 cm. (average). Double-line borders. Fishtail design on hanshin. Hiragana-majiri text with printed furigana, dakuten and kutōten. Preface and kōjo in kanbun. 7 lines to page, variable no. of characters to line. Original pale buff covers bound within renewed yellow covers of recent date. Original printed title slips, centrally placed, bearing gedai: 融通大念佛緣起. The same gedai handwritten on renewed outer covers. Title from gedai and from naidai at head of each maki. Hashiragaki: Yūzū nenbutsu engi jō (ge) 融通念佛緣起 上 (下) + folio no. Edition: Second edition of the work under this title, following the first edition in Genroku 4 (1691). Tobira, preface and kōjo from this edition are all retained in the present copy. Tobira reads: 元緑四年歳旅辛未鞠月穀旦 ／ 融通緣起 ／ 神雒 文林 導獃軒繡梓. The two Genroku editions were preceded by much earlier editions dated Meitoku 2 明徳二年 (1391) and Ōei 24 応永二十四年 (1417), which are important landmarks in the history of printed book illustration in Japan. 2 lines of text linking the present edition with pre-Edo editions titled Yūzū nenbutsu engi 融通念佛緣起, printed at end of text of maki 下, read as follows: 康永元年 [=1342] 十二月八日依法明上人 ／ 所望書之親王青蓮院宮. Contents: Life of Ryōnin 良忍, 1072-1132, founder of the Yūzū Nenbutsu sect, with an account of the origins and history of the sect.
Yūzū dainenbutsu engi 融通大念佛緣起 [融通大念仏縁起]
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- ReferenceGB 59 16218.d.23
- Dates of Creation1700
- Language of MaterialJapanese
- Physical Description2 volumes Condition: Fair to good. Minimal worm damage (repaired), but many folios soiled and stained at lower edges. Impression: Generally sharp and clear, with only occasional evidence of wear on blocks. Illustrations: Portrait of Ryōnin 良忍, deified, on tobira. Numerous sumizuri illustrations, many grouped in continuous sequences of 6-8 pages, depicting the life of Ryōnin, founder of the Nenbutsu sect. They are distributed as follows: (maki 上) ff. 9b, 13b-17a, 19b-20b, 21b-22a, 23b-26b, 28b-30a, 31b-32a, 41a-45a, 46b-47a; (maki 下) ff. 7a, 8b-9a, 10b-11b, 12b-13a, 14a-b, 15b-16a, 17a, 18b-19b, 22b-25a, 27b-30b, 31b-32a, 36b-38b, 39b, 44b. This unevenness of grouping clearly shows that the book originated in handscroll form. Seals of ownership: None.
Scope and Content
Access Information
Not Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Acquisition Information
Acquired from De Roos Collection, 9 June 1972.
Other Finding Aids
Kenneth Gardner, Descriptive Catalogue of Japanese books in the British Library printed before 1700 (London and Tenri, 1993). B. Buddhist works 仏書 1. General works 一般
Bibliography
Nihon koten bungaku daijiten 日本古典文学大辞典, vol. 6, p. 116; The history of Japanese printing and book illustration, pp. 106-7; Harunobu and his age, p.11.