Kunshin zuzō 君臣圖像 [君臣図像]

This material is held atBritish Library Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections

  • Reference
    • GB 59 Or.75.ff.10
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1651
  • Language of Material
    • Japanese
  • Physical Description
    • 1 volume Condition: Good. Free of worm damage, but with some water stains on mikaeshi, first 7 folios of text, and elsewhere. Impression: Sharp and clear, from unworn blocks. Illustrations: Identical to no. 39 above. Seals of ownership: Oblong red seal of Sir Ernest Satow, 英國薩道藏書, on first page of each former satsu.

Scope and Content

Variant title: Rekidai kunshin zuzō 歷代君臣圖像 [歴代君臣図像]. Variant title: Seikenzō 聖賢像. Author/compiler: Unknown. Imprint: [Kyōto] , Yasui Sōzaemonnojō, Keian 4, 1651. Kanki on last folio (68b) of maki 下 reads: 慶安四年辛卯五月吉日御幸町通長倉町 安井宗左衛門尉 開板. Description: 2 kan, formerly in 2 satsu, now rebound in 1 vol. western style. (上) ff. 4 (序, 題, 序), 2 (目録), 40; (下) ff. 68. 34.9 x 25.1 cm. Fukurotoji. Blockprint. p. f. varies between 25.5 and 26.7 x 20.6 cm. Double-line borders all round. 'Flower petal' fishtail design on hanshin. Kanbun text, with printed kunten and kaeriten. 10 lines to page, 18-19 characters to line. Original pale fawn front cover of maki 上 only. Title slip added c. mid-Edo period, with manuscript gedai: Kunshin zuzō jō 君臣図像 上. Title from gedai and hashiragaki: 君臣圖像 上 (下) + folio no. In a western style half-leather binding. Edition: The earliest known blockprinted edition of this work, following the movable type Keichō edition (Or.64.b.27), of which this is a direct reprint from newly cut blocks. It is probable that an earlier blockprint (c. Kan'ei period ?) was issued at some time between the publication of the Keichō (movable type) and Keian (seihan) editions, but no copy has survived. Contents: As above. Brief eulogistic biographies of each personage are printed on the verso of each portrait.

Access Information

Not Public Record(s)

Unrestricted

Acquisition Information

Acquired from William Anderson, 13 Feb. 1894.

Other Finding Aids

Kenneth Gardner, Descriptive Catalogue of Japanese books in the British Library printed before 1700 (London and Tenri, 1993).A. Chinese works 漢籍 4. History and biography 歴史•伝記

Bibliography

Kokusho sōmokuroku 国書総目録, vol. 2, p. 708; Iwasaki bunko wakanjo mokuroku 岩崎文庫和漢書目録, p. 284; Ōsaka furitsu toshokan-zō kisho kaidai mokuroku 大阪府立図書館蔵稀書解題目録, p. 70. See also no. 39 above.