Title: Tōyama-ryū Bonseki (Toyama Style Tray Rocks), 1935. An Early Showa Era Manuscript on the Toyama School of Making Miniature Rock Landscapes on a Tray, with 44 Full-Page Arrangements
Condition: Very Good
An Early Showa Era, mid 20th century manuscript entitled Tōyama-ryū Bonseki, or Toyama Style Tray Rocks.
Bonseki, also known as “tray rocks”, is an ancient Japanese art of creating miniature landscapes on black trays, using white sand, pebbled, and small rock. Not to be confused with Bonsai or the Zen Garden.
As this manuscript will show, many bonseki scenes depict mountains, seashores, and gardens, with small stones used to represent mountains, shorelines, or even rocky islands.
This manuscript has about 44 pages of different full-page arrangements.
While the exact origin is uncertain, popular belief stipulates that Emperor Tenmu in the 7th century utilized Bonseki techniques. As with bonsai, this art of arrangement requires small, delicate tools, and indeed, feathers, small flax broms, and more are required. The trays are on average 60 by 35 cm in size.
This manuscript depicts the Bonseki style of the Toyama School, which began under the first school head Morimura Yusuke (1847-1919).
One volume in manuscript in oblong format (16.8 x 24.5 cm), 24 leaves
This manuscript is in very good shape, with minor rubbing and wear to the binding. There is light, scattered soiling and staining to the margins.