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A rare, Early Edo Period, mid 17th century edition of Murasaki Shikibu?s Eiri Genji Monogatari, also known as the Illustrated Tale of Genji.
The Genji Monogatari is Shikibu?s greatest literary work, often considered to be history?s first novel, and the first by a woman to have global recognition. The text itself is broken down in 54 chapters, depicting the lives of highborn courtiers of the Heian Period, and the text itself was originally written in hiragana. The first section, being chapters 1-33, focus on the life and experiences of Hikaru Genji, the titular protagonist, who is the son of Japanese Emperor Kiritsubo, and a low-ranking concubine. The second section of chapters 34-41 focus on his senior years and death, while the final section of chapters 42-54 focuses on Genji?s grandson Niou, and presumed son, Kaoru.
Since the Heian Period, numerous copies of the Tale of Genji have existed in the form of manuscripts, and those who could not afford the manuscripts became familiarized with the text through the summarized editions, usually produced with commentaries. The Eiri Genji, first printed in Keian 3 (1650), was known as the was the first edition to be provided that included illustrations in addition to the text itself. This is the Manji 3 (1660) edition, being the third known variant, and referred to as the yokohon edition because of its landscape format.
All of the following chapters are present, with many of the volumes containing two of the chapters:
Kiritsubo (The Paulownia Court), Hahakigi (The Broom-Tree), Utsusemi (The Shell of the Locust), Y?gao (Evening Faces), Wakamurasaki (Lavender), Suetsumuhana (The Safflower), Momiji no Ga (An Autumn Excursion), Hana no En (The Festival of the Cherry Blossoms), Aoi (Heartvine), Sakaki (The Sacred Tree), Hana Chiru Sato (The Orange Blossoms), Suma (Exile to Suma), Akashi (The Lady at Akashi), Miotsukushi (Channel Buoys), Yomogiu (The Wormwood Patch), Sekiya (The Gatehouse), E Awase (A Picture Contest), Matsukaze (The Wind in the Pines), Usugumo (A Rack of Clouds), Asagao (The Morning Glory), Otome (The Maiden), Tamakazura (The Jewelled Chaplet), Hatsune (The First Warbler), Koch? (Butterflies), Hotaru (Fireflies), Tokonatsu (Wild Carnation), Kagaribi (Flares), Nowaki (The Typhoon), Miyuki (The Royal Outing), Fujibakama (Purple Trousers), Makibashira (The Cypress Pillar), Umegae (The Plum Tree Branch), Fuji no Uraba (Wisteria Leaves), Wakana: J? (Spring Shoots I), Wakana: Ge (Spring Shoots II), Kashiwagi (The Oak Tree), Yokobue (The Flute), Suzumushi (The Bell Cricket), Y?giri (Evening Mist), Minori (The Law), Maboroshi (The Seer), Kumogakure (Vanished into the Clouds), Ni? Miya (The Perfumed Prince), K?bai (The Rose Plum), Takekawa (Bamboo River), Hashihime (The Lady at the Bridge), Shii ga Moto (Beneath the Oak), Agemaki (Trefoil Knots), Sawarabi (Early Ferns), Yadorigi (The Ivy), Azumaya (The Eastern Cottage), Ukifune (A Boat upon the Waters), Kager? (The Drake Fly), Tenarai (Writing Practice), Yume no Ukihashi (The Floating Bridge of Dreams).
Beyond the main text, there are also the additional texts and books, being one of just commentaries, several other supplementary texts, and one genealogical volume, providing numerous family trees
Of the 30 volumes, 4 and 8 appear to be supplemented from another yokohon set, and most interestingly, volume 2 appears to be a near contemporary manuscript supplement. From the calligraphy to all the illustrations, everything has been expertly reproduced by hand.
There are over 190 beautiful full-page woodblock illustrations through, and another 10 or so, hand drawn from the supplemented manuscript volume 2, and displaying various scenes from all 54 chapters.
54 chapters and additional texts bound into 30 volumes in oblong octavo (21.2 x 15.9 cm)
These volumes are in very good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the bindings, heavier to a few. There is minor, scattered soiling throughout, and several volumes have worm tracks.
N° de réf. du vendeur ABE-1774977335554
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