Yumi hidenshō 弓秘傳抄 [弓秘伝抄]

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 59 16053.e.13
  • Dates of Creation
      1683
  • Language of Material
      Japanese
  • Physical Description
      2 volumes Condition: Fair to good. Worm damage (unrepaired) in maki 上; brown stains in maki 下. Impression: An early impression from unworn blocks. Illustrations: 3 single-page sumizuri woodcuts on ff. 19a-20b of maki 上, showing craftsmen shaping and stringing bows. Also several diagrams of bows in maki 上 and 下. Seals of ownership: None.

Scope and Content

Variant title: Yōsharoku 用射錄. Author/compiler: Hirose Yaichi 廣瀨彌一, fl. late 17th century. Author's name appears on fol. 18b of maki 下, preceded by 弓工 (master bowmaker). Imprint: Ōsaka, Fukaeya Tarōbē, Tenna 3, 1683. Kanki on fol. 18b of maki 下 reads: 天和三年 / 亥十一月吉日 / 大坂・・・ / 深江屋太郎兵衛板. Description: 2 kan, 2 satsu, in a chitsu case. (Maki 上) ff. 20; (maki 下) ff. 18. 22.4 x 16 cm. Fukurotoji. Blockprint. Printing frame 19.3 x 14.8 cm. (average). Single-line borders. Fishtail design on hanshin. Hiragana-majiri text with some printed furigana (katakana). 10 lines to page, 22-25 characters to line. Original pale fawn covers, with original printed title slip on maki 上 and vestige on maki 下. Gedai: 弓秘傳抄 上 (下). Title from naidai at head of preface. Hashiragaki: Yōsharoku 用射錄 上 (下) + folio no. Edition: The earliest edition of this work. Contents: A treatise on bowmaking and archery.

Access Information

Not Public Record(s)

Unrestricted

Acquisition Information

Acquired by purchase, 22 April 1959.

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

Kaga bunko mokuroku 加賀文庫目録, p. 264.