Author/compiler: Unknown. Imprint: Rakuyō [Kyōto] , Yasuda Jūbē, Meireki 3, 1657. Kanki on fol. 46b of maki 3 reads: 明暦三丁酉年重陽吉辰 ／ 洛陽寺町誓願寺前 ／ 安田十兵衛板行. Description: 2 kan (of 3), 2 satsu, in a box. Incomplete copy, maki 1 and 3 only. (Maki 1) ff. 44; (maki 3) ff. 46. 26.4 x 18.5 cm. Fukurotoji. Blockprint. Printing frame varies between 21.7 and 22.4 x 17.2 cm. Single-line borders round text and illustrations, the latter being framed by vertical rules marking them off from text. No fishtail design on hanshin. Hiragana-majiri text, with printed furigana, dakuten and kutōten. 13 lines to page, 23-25 characters to line. Light buff covers of very thin paper, now peeling off in places, overlying covers of thicker grey paper embossed with a geometric rhomboid pattern. Title slips missing. No gedai. Title from naidai. Hashiragaki: Heiji 平治 + maki no. + folio no. Edition: Third blockprinted edition, following those of Kan'ei 1 (1624) and 3 (1626), and the second edition to contain illustrations. Contents: A war tale (gunki monogatari) which, together with Hōgen monogatari (q. v.), tells of the struggles for imperial succession in the mid-12th century. Heiji monogatari deals with the second and decisive phase (Heiji no ran 平治の乱) of 1160, and places its chief emphasis on incidents in the conflict between the Taira and Minamoto families.
Heiji monogatari 平治物語
This material is held atBritish Library Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
- Reference
- GB 59 16052.f.5
- Dates of Creation
- 1657
- Language of Material
- Japanese
- Physical Description
- 2 volumes Condition: Fair to good. Some worm damage (unrepaired) and brown stains in upper margins of both maki 1 and 3. Impression: Slightly atozuri, from moderately worn blocks. Illustrations: A total of 27 sumizuri woodcuts, 15 in maki 1, 12 in maki 3, occupying up to three-quarters of each page. No hand-colouring. Illustrations are distributed as follows: (maki 1) ff. 6b, 9a, 11b, 14a, 17a, 18b, 21a, 24a, 27a, 31a, 33a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 44b; (maki 3) ff. 3b, 5b, 7a, 10a, 11b, 16a, 21a, 23a, 27a, 30a, 34b, 38b. Woodcuts are clearly based on those in the first illustrated edition of Kan'ei 3 (1626), but the ensuing 30 years have brought greater refinement of technique. Seals of ownership: None.
Scope and Content
Access Information
Not Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Acquisition Information
Acquired at Glendining's sale, London, 22 March 1956.
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 5. Literature - fiction 国文-小説 d. Gunki monogatari 軍記物語
Bibliography
Nihon koten bungaku daijiten 日本古典文学大辞典, vol. 5, pp. 399-401; Heiji monogatari shohon no kenkyū 平治物語諸本の研究, in Heike monogatari shohon no kenkyū, furoku 平家物語諸本の研究・附録, pp. 549-51.