Title: Sangoku Tsuran Zusetsu (An Illustrated Description of Three Countries), Dated Tenmei 5 (1785), Circa 1786-1830. An Extremely Unique, Early Manuscript Edition, Distinctly Deriving from the Original Text Format and Illustrations, with New Hiragana Accompaniments. 32 Hand Colored and Highly Detailed Pages of Illustrations
Author: Shihei Hayashi; Unknown Copyist
Condition: Very Good
A Late Edo Period, late 18th to early 19th century edition of Hayashi’s Sangoku Tsuran Zusetsu, known as the Illustrated Description of Three Countries. This would be one of the handwritten copies that was produced shortly after the Shogunate Banning of Hayashi’s work, and before the European Titsingh/Klaproth edition that was printed in 1832.
First penned in 1785, and published in 1786, the work represents one of the earliest attempts to define Japan in terms of its outer boundaries, presenting a modern effort to distinguish Japan from the neighboring nations.
The work focuses on three surrounding nations: the Joseon Dynasty (Korea), the Ryukyu Kingdom (Ryukyu Islands/Okinawa) and Ezo (Hokkaido), as well as the yet uninhabited Bonin Islands. There is a particular focus on the Ainu people of Ezo, displaying their culture, tools, and appearances.
There are 32 pages of woodblock illustrations, showing the customs and attire of the Ainu people. Amongst village scenes and detailing in attire, there is also part of an Iomante ceremony depicted, where a hand-raised brown bear cub is ceremonially killed, under the notion that the soul merely returns to its god-world, as well as an illustration of a cub in its pen/cage.
This copy was likely made using an original printed edition for reference. However, while most manuscript editions typically try to stay as faithful as possible to the original in regard to the text format and illustrations, the script completely derives from that and is easily recognizable as manuscript and not an attempt to imitate print. There is also accompanying hiragana text as times as well, not something I have ever seen in any manuscript copy prior. Not only that, but even in regard to the illustrations, which have all been hand colored, there are extremely distinct differences in both the facial appearances and at times vestments of different individuals. Whoever this copyist was, clearly wanted to be somewhat creative with this copy, and it does show.
A military and political theorist of the Sendai Domain, Hayashi Shihei was deeply concerned regarding the rise of the Western World’s military and naval power, especially the presence of Russia in East Asia. Thus, he saw as a need for Japan to strengthen its defences and lobbied the Tokugawa Shogunate for a strengthening of Japan's defenses and advocated supplementing traditional Samurai training with courses in Western military science.
Asides from this work, he published several other texts including Kaikoku Heidan in 1791, a work which invited significant misfortune upon him.
As his works were published without authorization from the Shogunate and critiqued foreign trade, he quickly fell out of trade, with his works becoming banned, as well the original woodblock printings plates destroyed. With that in mind, many subsequent copies that exist were produced by hand, as there was still significant demand for it.
Sangoku Tsuran Zusetsu did not see any further printing until a copy was taken to Siberia, and later Paris, by Isaac Titsingh, where he produced a French translation. After his death, the printed original and Titsingh's translation were purchased, and in 1832, the Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland supported a posthumous abridged publication of Titsingh's French translation.
One manuscript in quarto (25.2 x 19 cm), 62 leaves
This manuscript is in very good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the binding. There are several worm tracks, mostly marginal, though there is a section within the text portion which is affected. The upper and lower corners are soiled and stained.