Genkō shakusho 元亨釋書 [元亨釈書]

Archive Unit
  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 59 Or.75.g.1
  • Dates of Creation
      1624
  • Language of Material
      Japanese
  • Physical Description
      2 volumes Condition: Fair. A clean copy, but with much unrepaired worm damage throughout, especially in margins. Some folios have been patched up, not very skilfully, by urauchi. Impression: Fairly sharp and clear in places, but blocks show marked signs of wear elsewhere. Seals of ownership: Large square red seal (undeciphered) on first page of maki 29. Stamped impression in large kaisho script, without frame: Honseizan (or Honzeizan) zōsho 本誓山藏書, on first page of maki 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29. Manuscript notes: Note in rōmaji on mikaeshi: Kokwan-Zenji, Genkō Shakusho, 1322 A.D. Kojima's edition, Kyōto, 1624 A.D.

Scope and Content

Author/compiler: Shiren 師錬, Zen monk (Rinzai sect) of Nanzenji, also known as Kokan 虎關, 1278-1346. Imprint: Rakuyō [Kyōto] , Kojima Ietomi, Kan'ei 1, 1624. Publisher's batsu on unnumbered leaf following fol. 21 of maki 30 ends: 寛永元甲子年春三月日 ／ 洛下小嶋家冨跋. Description: 30 kan, formerly in 5 satsu, now rebound in 2 vols. western style. (Maki 1) ff. 5 (preface), 3 (表), 19 (目録), 29 (本文); (maki 2) ff. 30; (3) ff. 31; (4) ff. 28; (5) ff. 28; (6) ff. 21; (7) ff. 25; (8) ff. 24; (9) ff. 32; (10) ff. 31; (11) ff. 29; (12) ff. 27; (13) ff. 19; (14) ff. 20; (15) ff. 28; (16) ff. 20; (17) ff. 36; (18) ff. 35; (19) ff. 23; (20) ff. 28; (21) ff. 28; (22) ff. 28; (23) ff. 32; (24) ff. 25; (25) ff. 32; (26) ff. 28; (27) ff. 27; (28) ff. 27; (29) ff. 25; (30) ff. 21, [1] . 27 x 19.5 cm. Fukurotoji. Blockprint. Printing frame 23.3 x 17.4 cm. (average). Single-line borders all round. 'Flower petal' fishtail design on hanshin. Kanbun text, with printed okurigana and kaeriten. 9 lines to page, 17 characters to line. Renewed dark blue front covers of maki 1 and 12 only, lacking title slips, hence no gedai. Title from naidai. Hashiragaki: Shaku 尺 + maki no. + folio no. In a western style half-leather binding. Edition: Following two Gozan-ban of the 14th century and the three movable type editions noted under no. 100 above, this was the first blockprinted edition to be published in the Edo period. An account of the circumstances of editing and publishing this edition is given in the 2-page batsu by Kojima Ietomi 小嶋家冨 noted under Imprint above. A further blockprint was published in Kanbun 1, 1661. Contents: The earliest comprehensive history of Japanese Buddhism, in the form of biographies of 416 eminent monks and lay persons, 6th to 13th centuries, followed by annals and essays. Completed and presented to the throne in Genkō 2, 1322.

Access Information

Not Public Record(s)

Unrestricted

Acquisition Information

Acquired from Mr. K. Minakata, 10 Oct. 1896.

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