Author/compiler: Unknown. Imprint: [Kyōto] , Yoshinoya Sōbē, Kanbun 10, 1670. Kanki on fol. 18b of maki 8 reads; 寛文拾庚戌初夏 ／ 吉野屋惣兵衛板. Description: 8 kan, 8 satsu, in a chitsu case. (1) ff. 15; (2) ff. 28; (3) ff. 24; (4) ff. 35; (5) ff. 36; (6) ff. 38; (7) ff. 40; (8) ff. 18. 25.9 x 18.4 cm. Fukurotoji. Blockprint. Printing frame 21.8 x 16.8 cm. Single-line borders, also enclosing illustrations. No fishtail design on hanshin. Hiragana-majiri text, with printed furigana, dakuten and kutōten. 14 lines to page, 25-28 characters to line. Original grey-black covers, with original printed title slips. Gedai: Shinpan 新板 (tsunogaki 角書) Gikeiki 義經記. Title from naidai. Hashiragaki: Gikeiki 義經記 + maki no. + folio no. Edition: The 9th of 13 blockprinted editions published between 1633 and 1708. These were preceded by several movable type editions. According to Tokugawa jidai shuppansha shuppanbutsu shūran 徳川時代出版者出版物集覽, vol. 1, p. 185, this edition of Kanbun 10 (1670) was published by Nishimura Matazaemon 西村又左衞門 of Kyōto. It is possible that the blocks were taken over by Yoshinoya from Nishimura, or vice-versa, for a later printing. Contents: A popular account of the life and exploits of Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-89), drawn from tales and legends which developed during the centuries following Yoshitsune's death. Classed as a gunki monogatari (war tale). Gikeiki dwells more on the personal life and deeds of Yoshitsune, especially those involving the warrior-monk Benkei, than on his public career as a historical figure. Written by an unknown author c. 1400-50.
Gikeiki 義經記 [義経記]
This material is held atBritish Library Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
- Reference
- GB 59 16052.f.22
- Dates of Creation
- 1670
- Language of Material
- Japanese
- Physical Description
- 8 volumes Condition: Good. Worm damage and water stains minimal. Maki 5 and 8 nibbled by mice at upper edge. Impression: Atozuri, from moderately worn blocks. Illustrations: A total of 40 sheets of sumizuri illustrations (80 pictures in all), printed on recto and verso of the same sheet. These illustrations differ in number and, to some extent, in subject matter from those in the Manji 2 万治二年 (1659) edition described in the Ryerson Catalogue, pp. 28-30. Distribution of pictures in the present copy is as follows: (maki 1) 4 sheets, (2) 5 sheets, (3) 4 sheets, (4) 6 sheets, (5) 5 sheets, (6) 6 sheets, (7) 6 sheets, (8) 4 sheets. Seals of ownership: Square red seal, Itō zōsho 伊藤藏書, on first page of each maki.
Scope and Content
Access Information
Not Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Acquisition Information
Acquired from Rinrōkaku, 4 August 1960.
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. 2, pp. 118-20; Yoshitsune densetsu to bungaku 義経伝説と文学, pp. 635-7.