Kotowazagusa 諺草

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 59 16096.b.4
  • Dates of Creation
      1701
  • Language of Material
      Japanese
  • Physical Description
      2 volumes Condition: Good, apart from minimal worm damage and a few stains. Slight brown embrittlement around edges of leaves. Cropped at upper edge. Impression: Sharp and clear, shozuri or near. Seals of ownership: None. Manuscript notes: Signature of a former owner, J. W. McCarthy, on outer front cover. The same signature followed by 'Yedo, 1877' on first page of preface.

Scope and Content

Author/compiler: Kaibara Yoshifuru (also read Kōko) 貝原好古, also known as Chiken 恥軒, nephew of Kaibara Ekiken, 1664-1700. Imprint: Kyōto, Uejima Sehei, Nagao Heibē, Genroku 14, 1701. Kanki following batsu at end of maki 7 reads: 元禄十四年辛巳春正月吉旦 / 皇都二條通 / 上島瀬平 / 長尾平兵衞 / 仝梓. Description: 7 kan, formerly in 5 satsu, rebound in 1 vol. western style. 21.6 x 15.8 cm. Original (?) grey-green front cover of satsu 1 only, with renewed title slip bearing manuscript gedai: 諺草... . In a western style half-leather binding. Edition: First recorded edition, followed by further editions in Kyōhō 6 (1721) and Bunka 13 (1816). Contents: Collected proverbs and common sayings, classified by categories in iroha order, with explanations and quoted sources.

Access Information

Not Public Record(s)

Unrestricted

Acquisition Information

Acquired by purchase, 19 Feb. 1883.

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 3. Language 言語 b. Proverbs 諺

Bibliography

Nihon koten bungaku daijiten 日本古典文学大辞典, vol. 2, p. 650; text reprinted in Ekiken zenshū 益軒全集, vol. 3.