No. 107, January 1999

Selections from the exhibition 
"Rare Books of the National Diet Library"

The National Diet Library (NDL) possesses 340,000 items of rare and old materials, mainly Japanese items of the Edo period and earlier and Chinese of the Qing dynasty and earlier. Among them, we designate especially valuable materials as rare books or semi-rare books according to specified criteria. This time we have selected about 100 items for the commemorative exhibition "Rare books of the National Diet Library". 
In this home page, we show you five striking Japanese items from the exhibition. 

Daietsu

[Standard size image] [Big size image] 
[Full scroll of the vol.1] [Full scroll of the vol.2] 

Attributed to Sumiyoshi Hiromori (1705-77)
Copy in the 18 c., Two handscrolls, 32.6cm. in height

Daietsu, also known as "Daikoku-mai", is a picture scroll of otogi-zoshi (book of stories for women and children). The work is about an affectionate and dutiful son, Daietsu-no-suke. He rose to wealth and honor through the favor of Kiyomizu Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy), Daikokuten and Ebisu (gods of wealth). Although the tale dates from the late Muromachi period (15-16 c.), the scrolls on display are estimated to have been completed in the middle of the Edo period (18 c.). In this scene, Daietsu-no-suke (the man in blue garment at the bottom) scatters beans to drive away the devil. 

Mansai Jugo Nikki

[Full scroll (Diary)] [Full scroll (Calendar)] 
[Big size image (Diary)] [Big size image (Calendar)] 

Autograph by Mansai (1378-1435) 
1411-22, 11 rolls, 32.0 cm. in height, 
Designated as an important cultural asset. 

A diary of Mansai, an abbot of the Daigo Temple in the early Muromachi Period (14-15 c.). Diary entres are written for each day on the reverse side of an annotated calendar. 
Born in an aristocratic family, Mansai was adopted by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and was ordained to the priesthood. He served three shoguns not only as a priest but also as a political adviser and close associate. He witnessed many historic events in politics, foreign relations, literature and society including the nation's top secrets. His diary is thus an important historical document of his time. 

Odori no zu

[Standard size image] [Big size image] 

by unknown painter 
Copy of the 17 c., Handscroll, 23.5cm. in height. 

A handwritten colored picture scroll. The work describes eight kinds of Japanese folk dance. Some humorous writings related to each dance are written here and there in the spaces. Although the painter of this picture scroll is unknown, the style of painting suggests that it was produced in the early Edo period. These dances were very popular. The scroll is also a valuable source material for researching old Japanese folk art. 

Dainihon enkai yochi zenzu

[Map of Musashi, Simousa, Sagami] 
[Map of Kai, Suruga] 
[Detail of Mt. Fuji] 

Measured and drawn by Ino Tadataka (1745-1818)
Copy ca.1873, 43 maps, 117.5 * 187.0 - 210.8 * 124.1cm.

Ino Tadataka was a famous cartographer. He traveled all over Japan from 1800 to 1816, measuring the whole country, and drew many maps. Dainihon enkai yochi zenzu is composed of 214 daizu (1:36,000), 8 chuzu (1:216,000) and 3 shozu (1:432,000) and covers the whole country. This work was compiled as a final version of his many maps, and was presented to the shogunate government in 1821. His original maps were burned in a fire, and this is a copy made by hand in the Meiji era. The NDL holds 43 maps of this kind (daizu) in its collection. 

Saishiki mitsu no asa

[Picture 1] [Picture 2] [Picture 3] [Picture 4] 

[Picture 5] [Picture 6] [Picture 7] 

by Torii Kiyonaga (1752-1815) 
1787, Album, 25.9 * 19.0cm.

Seven large-size nishiki-e (colored woodblock print) were mounted in a folding picture book. The work depicts New Year's events and customs in Edo (now Tokyo). The title Mitsu no asa means threefold morning, because the morning of January 1 is the beginning of the year and the month and the day. Torii Kiyonaga produced this work in the heyday of his success as an unrivaled master of shibai-e (paintings of a drama) and bijin-ga (paintings of beautiful women). In this scene (picture 7), he describes a new year sale in the Eijudo book store which published this picture book. 

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