Author/compiler: Shiren 師錬, Zen monk (Rinzai sect) of Nanzenji, also known as Kokan 虎關, 1278-1346. Imprint: [Kyōto] . Shimomura Seizō 下村生藏, Keichō 10 1605. Kanki on last folio verso of maki 30 reads: 慶長乙巳歳仲夏日 ／ 下村生藏刋之. Description: 30 kan, formerly in 10 satsu, now rebound in 2 vols. western style. (Satsu 1) ff. 19 (目録), 3 (表), maki 1-2; (satsu 2) maki 3-5; (satsu 3) maki 6-8; (satsu 4) maki 9-11; (satsu 5) maki 12-15; (satsu 6) maki 16-18; (satsu 7) maki 19-21; (satsu 8) maki 22-24; (satsu 9) maki 25-27; (satsu 10) maki 28-30. 27.6 x 21.3cm. Fukurotoji. Movable type. Printing frame 21.8-22.1 x 18.2 cm. Double-line borders. Vertical rules between columns. Fishtail design on hanshin. Kanbun text, without printed kunten or reading marks. 9 lines to page, 17 characters to line. Mid-blue front covcrs (early Edo pcriod, not original) of satsu 1 and 6 only. No title slips, but manuscript gedai: 元亨釋書 合巻十册一. Title from naidai. Hashiragaki: Shaku 尺 + maki no. + folio no. Edition: The second of three early movable type editions, the first being published in Keichō 4, 1599, and the third in Genna 3, 1617. Preceded by two Gozan-ban blockprints. The present edition is an early example of commercial publishing (bōkoku-bon 坊刻本), which began in Keichō period with medical and Buddhist works following the decline of printing in Buddhist monasteries. The publisher, Shimomura Seizō 下村生藏, one of the leading type engravers of his day, was also responsible for printing and publishing the Keichō 9 (1604) edition of Kyōkai shingaku biku gyōgo ritsugi 教誡新學比丘行護律義, utilising the same font of type for both works. He is believed to have been closely associated with Suminokura Soan 角倉素庵 and with Shimomura Tokifusa 下村時房, publisher of the Shimomura edition of Heike monogatari 平家物語 (see Or.75.b.4). 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.
Genkō shakusho 元亨釋書 [元亨釈書]
This material is held atBritish Library Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
- Reference
- GB 59 Or.75.e.11
- Dates of Creation
- 1605
- Language of Material
- Japanese
- Physical Description
- 2 volumes Condition: Good, apart from a few brown stains near beginning and end, and minimal worm damage, neatly repaired. Impression: A clear impression, but showing some evidence of type wear in places. Seals of ownership: No stamped seals. Manuscript notes: Katakana kunten in black, and shubiki, kutōten and some textual notes in red, added throughout the text. Ownership inscriptions in three places: (1) 福生密𥦺蔵 on front cover of satsu 1, in same hand as gedai; (2) 蜂崗瑜誐蔵 on last page of maki 11; (3) 蜂岡福生密院蔵本 on last page of maki 30, to left of kanki. All appear to be of early Edo period.
Scope and Content
Access Information
Not Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Acquisition Information
Acquired from Ernest M. Satow, 22 Sept. 1884.
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
Kokatsujiban no kenkyū 古活字版の研究, pp. 290, 337, 350, 428, pl. 79; Bussho kaisetsu daijiten 仏書解説大辞典, vol. 3, p. 187; Nihon koten bungaku daijiten 日本古典文学大辞典, vol. 2, p. 394; Daitōkyū kinen bunko kichōsho kaidai 大東急記念文庫貴重書解題, vol. 2, p. 174; Takagi bunko kokatsuji-ban mokuroku 高木文庫古活字版目録, p. 78