Title: Nanso Satomi Hakkenden (The Tale of the Eight Dogs of Satomi), 1883. A Heavily Illustrated Edition of Bakin’s Work, with 148 Half and Full-Page Woodblock Illustrations. 10 of 23 Books
Author: Takizawa Bakin; Illustrated by Ichikeisai Hoiki, Ogata Gekko, Utagawa Kunimatsu, and Isshusai Kunibai
Publisher: Tokyo, Sakushokan
Condition: Very Good
A condensed, Meiji Period, late 19th century edition of Bakin’s Nanso Satomi Hakkenden, also known as the Tale of the Eight Dogs of Satomi. This is a condensed edition, containing 10 of 23 books.
Bakin’s weaves a tale of eight young warriors, bound by a connection to another world between the Princess Fuse, of the Satomi clan in Awa, and the dog of kami Yatsufusa. The tale itself is set in the Muromachi period, several hundred years before the author’s birth. Though each of the brothers are born in a different province of the Kanto region, their bonds deepen between each other through their various experiences and struggles, and they gather under the banner of the Satomi clan, with the tale cumulating in tremendous battles against enemy lords. Loyalty, bushido, Confucianism, and Buddhist philosophy serve as core components to the tale.
There are 148 half page and full-page woodblocks illustrations throughout, featuring harrowing battles, mystical creatures, and much more. The illustrations are by Ichikeisai Hoiki, Ogata Gekko, Utagawa Kunimatsu, and Isshusai Kunibai.
10 volumes in quarto (22.5 x 15 cm), 59, 61, 55, 49, 54, 63, 55, 57, 53, 60 leaves
These volumes are in very good shape, with minor rubbing and wear to the bindings.