Hōbutsushū 寶物集 [宝物集]

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

  • Reference
    • GB 59 16006.e.7
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1693
  • Language of Material
    • Japanese
  • Physical Description
    • 1 volume Condition: Very good. A clean copy, free from worm damage. Impression: Atozuri, from blocks showing signs of moderate wear. Seals of ownership: None.

Scope and Content

Author/compiler: Taira no Yasuyori 平康賴, fl. c. 1170-1200. Imprint: [Kyōto] , Umemura Saburōbē, Genroku 6, 1693. Kanki on fol. 46b of maki 7 reads: 元禄六癸酉年孟秋吉辰 ／ 寺町通松原上ル町 ／ 洛城書肆 梅村三郎兵衛板. Description: 7 kan, formerly in 7 satsu, now rebound in 1 vol. western style. (Maki 1) ff, [2] (preface 序), [1] (brief biography of Taira no Yasuyori 平康賴傳), 3 (mokuroku 目録), 35; (maki 2) ff. 2 (目録), 50; (maki 3) ff. 2 (目録), 40; (maki 4) ff. 2 (目録), 34; (maki 5) ff. 2 (目録), 36; (maki 6) ff. 2 (目録), 31; (maki 7) ff. 2 (目録), 46. 24.3 x 17.5 cm. Fukurotoji. Blockprint. Printing frame 20.5 x 14.8 cm. (average). Single-line borders. No fishtail design on hanshin. Katakana-majiri text, with printed furigana and dakuten. 9 lines to page, 20-22 characters to line. Original pale blue front cover of satsu 1 only, with embossed pattern of flowers within circles. Original title slip on left with printed gedai: 寶物集 平康頼記一. Title from naidai at beginning and end of each maki. Hashiragaki: Hōbutsushū maki 1 (etc.) 宝物集 巻一 (等) + folio no. In a modern western style half-leather binding. Edition: Fifth blockprinted edition of this work, in 7 kan without illustrations. According to Nihon koten bungaku daijiten 日本古典文学大辞典, there were 5 reprints of this edition from the same blocks, each issued by a different publisher. The work begins with a preface dated Genroku 6 (1693), signed by the monk Myōshun 明春, and a brief note on the life of Yasuyori signed 'Fukashigi' 不可思議. Contents: A collection of tales and anecdotes, believed to have been written by Taira no Yasuyori shortly after his return to Kyōto from exile in or about 1178. These tales, belonging to the category of setsuwa bungaku 説話文学, are chiefly concerned to extol the law and teachings of Buddhism.

Access Information

Not Public Record(s)

Unrestricted

Acquisition Information

Acquired from Alexander von Siebold, 22 July 1868.

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 b. Setsuwa bungaku 説話文学

Bibliography

Nihon koten bungaku daijiten 日本古典文学大辞典, vol. 5, p. 439; Nihon bungaku shoshi 日本文学書誌K, vol. 3, (下) pp. 94-6.