Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale
Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale

Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale

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Title: Bunsho Soshi (The Tale of Bunsho), Circa 1600-1670. A Beautifully Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Eight Yamato-E Paintings, Likely Made for the Nara Ehon Narrative of Bunsho the Saltmaker and Possibly Another Tale from the Otogi-zōshi Collection
Condition: Good

An Early Edo Period, 17th century series of 28 beautifully illuminated and hand painted Yamato-E paintings for a Nara Ehon narrative, most likely made for the tale Bunsho the Saltmaker, and possibly at least one more Tale from the Otogi-zōshi Collection of Muromachi Period prose. The Tale of Bunsho recounts the life of Bunta, a lowly servant, who through hard work and devotion to a particular shrine is able to achieve fortune and happiness for his family.

Each painting has been produced on fine paper and beautifully made with profuse usage of gold leaf, gold inks, gold sprays, and clouds to decorate the borders. The detailing to each figure and building are also finely painted, with attention to detail on the vestments and kimono patterns, the courtyards and mansion halls, and even shading techniques used on the gardens and greenery. The fukinuki yatai technique is used here as well, where we can see beyond the roof of the buildings where individuals may be residing.

As these paintings are without any accompanying text or contemporary inscriptions, we can only roughly date these paintings based off the style of painting and illumination, as well as comparing to similarly produced Nara Ehon and when those examples were dated.

Based on some of the incurred damage, it is most likely that the paintings were at some point pasted onto a folding screen to serve as décor, later removed, and then laid down on sheets.

From the Muromachi to Mid Edo Period, Nara Ehon were produced in both booklet and scroll format, typically drawing from tales of the Otogi-zōshi, regular scenes of life, and other sources. There is a theory that they were created by Buddhist sculptors such as those at Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara, but the name was created after the Meiji period, and the relationship to Nara is unknown.

28 illuminated Nara Ehon, shikishi format paintings on fine paper, mounted on sheets, 17.2 x 24 cm

These paintings are in good shape, with some wear and rubbing to some of the paintings. Three of the paintings have suffered heavier cracking than others, with a bit of loss.