Title: Ojoyoshu (Essentials of Rebirth), An Illustrated Compendium of the Afterlife, Circa 1848-1853
Author: Genshin
Publisher: Kyōto, Kaei Nenkan
Condition: Good
An Edo Period, mid 19th century edition of the Ojoyoshu, or, The Essentials of Rebirth in the Pure Land, a Buddhist trilogy of texts written by the Japanese monk Genshin, who lived during the tail end of the Heian era. It was considered his most well received work, for the extremely brutal detailing of Hell and the afterlife, and was published several times throughout the centuries, including this Kaei Era edition.
First written in 985, the Buddhist work compiles important passages on rebirth in paradise from numerous Buddhist scriptures and treatises from the perspective of Pure Land Buddhism, consisting of three volumes. It teaches that the only way to attain rebirth in paradise after death is to single-mindedly remember Buddha and chant the Nembutsu, thereby laying the foundation for Pure Land Buddhism. Furthermore, the concepts of hell and paradise, and the spirit of aversion to the impure world and desire for the pure land, which were taught in this work, became popular among both aristocrats and commoners, and had a profound influence on later literary thought. Many sections are devoted to the difficult practice of contemplating one's own body through meditation and using this as a medium to contemplate Amida Buddha as a physical body, known as Kanso-Nenbutsu.
The three volumes are broken into the following realms: Hell, Hungry Ghosts/Violent Spirits, and Paradise.
There are 19, 8, and 11 full page woodblock print illustrations, with vivid illustrations of torture and suffering in Hell, along with various scenes in the realms of Hungry Ghosts and Paradise.
Three volumes in quarto (22.4 x 16.1 cm),35, 30, 35 leaves
These volumes are in good shape, with some wear and worming to the covers. The first few and last leaves to the first two volumes have some worming, heavier to the first volume. Some of the woodblock impressions are faded, and not the best quality. There is some foxing throughout.