Mujōjū yume monogatari 無常重夢物語

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

  • Reference
    • GB 59 16107.g.17
  • Dates of Creation
    • [1681-1686]
  • Language of Material
    • Japanese
  • Physical Description
    • 2 volumes Condition: Good, apart from soiled corners and damaged fore-edges of most folios, repaired by urauchi. Impression: Shozuri or near. Illustrations: A total of 5 double-page and 3 single-page sumizuri illustrations, 3 double-page and 2 single in maki 上, and 2 double-page and 1 single in maki 下. In Kokusho sōmokuroku 国書総目録 and in Tenri Catalogue these illustrations are attributed to Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣 but Moronobu's name does not appear in the book. The illustrations are striking and powerfully drawn. Seals of ownership: None. Manuscript notes: Note at end of text on fol. 19a of maki 上 dates the book to Jōkyō 3 貞享三年 (1686) and attributes the illustrations to Furuyama Tarōbē (=Furuyama Moroshige 古山師重), pupil of Moronobu. The note reads: 貞享三年丙寅 ／ 繪師 ／ 古山太郎兵衛.

Scope and Content

Author/compiler: Unknown. Imprint: [Edo] , Hon'a Seibē, n.d. [Tenna / Jōkyō period, c. 1681-86] . Kango on fol. 16b of maki 下 ends with the following kanki: 日本橋万町本屋清兵衛板行. Description: 2 kan, 2 satsu, in a box. (Maki 上) ff. 19; (maki 下) ff. 16. 26.9 x 18.1 cm. Fukurotoji. Blockprint. Printing frame 21.8 x 16.5 cm. (average). Single-line borders. No fishtail design on hanshin. Hiragana-majiri text, with printed furigana and dakuten. 11 lines to page, 20-23 characters to line. Original dark blue covers, with renewed title slip on maki 上 and vestiges of original title slips (one oblong on left, one square, upper centre) on maki 下 (gedai missing). Manuscript gedai on maki 上: 無常重夢記. Title from naidai at head of both maki. Hashiragaki: 無上 (下) + folio no. Edition: The only recorded edition, undated but ascribed by reference books to Tenna 天和 period (1681-84). Contents: A popular work of fiction, kana-zōshi type, but deeply imbued with Buddhist teachings.

Access Information

Not Public Record(s)

Unrestricted

Acquisition Information

Acquired from Richard Lane, 19 Nov. 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 f. Kana-zōshi 仮名草子

Bibliography

Ukiyoe jiten 浮世絵事典, vol. 3, p. 316; Tenri toshokan kisho mokuroku 天理図書館稀書目録, vol. 3, p. 408.