Heike monogatari 平家物語

Author/compiler: Unknown. Imprint: N.p. [Kyōto] , Genroku 12, 1699. Kanki following kango on fol. 45b of maki 12 reads: 元禄十二己卯歳正月吉日 ／ 平安城書林 板行. Publisher not named. Description: 12 kan, formerly in 6 satsu, now rebound in 1 vol. western style. (1) ff. 1-2 (作者伝記), 3-6 (系図), 2 (目録), 43; (2) ff. 2 (目録), 51; (3) ff. 2 (目録), 46; (4) ff. 2 (目録), 46; (5) ff. 2 (目録), 37; (6) ff. 2 (目録), 30; (7) ff. 2 (目録), 41; (8) ff. 2 (目録), 32; (9) ff. 2 (目録), 53; (10) ff. 2 (目録), 42; (11) ff. 2 (目録), 44; (12) ff. 2 (目録), 45. 13.4 x 19.5 cm. (oblong format). Fukurotoji. Blockprint. Printing frame 11.5 x 17.5 cm. (average). Single-line borders. Single fishtail design on hanshin. Hiragana-majiri text, with furigana, dakuten and kutōten. 19 lines to page, variable no. of characters to line. Renewed front cover, black-speckled stone colour, of satsu 1 only, without title slip. Manuscript gedai: 平家物語. Title from naidai at head of each maki. Hashiragaki: Heike 平家 + maki no. + folio no. In a western style half-leather binding. Edition: One of the numerous blockprinted editions of Heike monogatari issued in the 17th century. Of these, Nihon bungaku daijiten 日本文学大事典 records hiragana-majiri illustrated editions published in Meireki 2 (1656), Kanbun 11 (1671), Enpō 5 (1677), Tenna 2 (1682), Genroku 4 (1691), Genroku 11 (1698) and Genroku 12 (1699). On this evidence, the present copy belongs to the seventh illustrated edition. It is not clear, however, whether any of the earlier editions were printed in oblong format as in the present case. Contents: Greatest of the war tales (gunki monogatari 軍記物語), dealing with the heyday of the Taira family (1160-80) and the wars between the Taira and Minamoto clans (1180-85), ending in the crushing defeat of the Taira (Heike 平家). Probably written by a court noble in the early 13th century, though the original source material is uncertain. The work is permeated throughout by Buddhist doctrines of the impermanence of human life and activity.

Unrestricted

Acquired from Alexander von Siebold, 22 July 1868.

Kenneth Gardner, Descriptive Catalogue of Japanese books in the British Library printed before 1700 (London and Tenri, 1993). C. Japanese works 和書 5. Literature - fiction 国文-小説 d. Gunki monogatari 軍記物語