National Diet Library Newsletter
No. 137, June 2004
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Selections from NDL Collection
as important cultural properties
Moromori-ki, the diary of an aristocrat in the 14th century held by the NDL, had its cultural importance acknowledged by the Cultural Affairs Council on March 19, 2004. Taking this opportunity, here we introduce five materials from the NDL collections designated as important cultural properties by the Japanese government.
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A geographical description of the Chinese holy mountain, Tendaisan (Tian Tai Shan in Chinese), written during the Tang dynasty (618 - 907). The NDL holds the only surviving handwritten copy, which was thought to date from around the 11-12th century. It is introduced in the 111th issue of the NDL Newsletter. Please click here for detailed bibliographic notes. |
NDL call no. <WA1-2> |
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NDL call no. <WA1-3> |
Digital images of all the pages are available here (Japanese only). |
A character dictionary printed some time between 1034 and 1037 under the Baisong Dynasty (960-1125) in China. No copy survived in that country.
The elegant character style is a feature of the prints of that period. 2,568 characters that had been used in China as family names since ancient times are classified and arranged according to 170 radicals. Following the characters, their origins, renowned figures of that name, documents in which the character appears, and their pronunciations are listed. Antemortem names of past emperors of the Baisong Dynasty are not written in complete form, but lack the finishing stroke. From these characters and from the preface written in 1035 by Shaosi, the editor, the publication year was estimated. The exlibris stamps suggest that this material was brought to Japan via Korea.
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(page
on the right)
latter half of the preface by Shaosi (page
on the left)
[Seikai]
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| characters
listed, from volume1
[Seikai]
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Digital images of all the scrolls are available from here (Japanese only). |
[Full scroll (Calendar)] [Big size image (Diary)] [Big size image(Calendar)] |
The diary of Mansai, an abbot of the Daigo Temple in the early Muromachi Period (14-15 c.). This material is introduced in the 107th issue of the NDL Newsletter. Please click here for detailed information.
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Please click on the image for a larger one. The forth paragraph from the right describes the sword of Awataguchi Toshiro Yoshimitsu. Digital images of all the pages are available here (Japanese only). |
The oldest Japanese sword book in existence. It is thought to be a handwritten copy of a work of the late Kamakura Period (1192-1333): the text includes reference to the year 1316, and the imprint shows that the copy was completed in 1423.
The lineage of master-apprentice relationships from the Jindai (ca.7 c.) to the late Kamakura period is traced in the book and swordsmiths of the day are listed. In the section titled "Kokon shokoku kaji no mei (literally, "inscription on swords of all ages and countries")," 52 distinguished swordmakers are introduced. Especially about 42 swordsmiths including Awataguchi Toshiro Yoshimitsu and Nakajiro Kunimasa of Yamato, the forms of nakago (tangs) of their works are illustrated in the upper part of the pages, and below are written the smith's name, the region, his school, date, and the features of his works.
The title "Mei-zukushi" is taken from the word which appears in the page 9-cho-ura (latter half of the 9th sheet). There are 45 sheets in total excluding blank pages. Temporary binding in Japanese style. As it was once possessed by the Kanchi-in, the foremost of the small temples belonging to Toji temple in Kyoto, the book was also called "Kanchi-in-bon Mei-zukushi."
The NDL purchased this material in 1910.
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NDL call no. <WA27-1 |
| Title: | Moromori-ki |
| Author: | Nakahara Moromori (?-?) |
| Date: | 1339-74 |
| Discription: | 64 scrolls, 30.3cm in height |
A diary of Nakahara Moromori, an aristocrat in the 14th century. From 1336 to 1392, the Japanese imperial family was divided into the Northern Dynasty and the Southern Dynasty and sporadic conflicts arose. The author served the Northern Dynasty as an official responsible for drafting official documents and recording events.
The major part of the diary describes how the author's father and brother lived in that difficult time, and how political ceremonies and public matters were handled in the Northern Dynasty. Reflecting the political and social confusion, it contains detailed records on the negotiation process between the two dynasties, as well as other significant information on political and military affairs of the 14th century. It also reveals the lives and customs of the aristocrats of those days.
The Imperial Library (a predecessor of the NDL, called "Tokyo Shojakukan" at that time) acquired Moromori-ki from Ishikawa prefecture in 1876. The NDL took it over when the Imperial Library ceased to exist. As a part of the repair work while in the possession of the Imperial Library, the diary was recompiled in 64 scrolls (originally compiled in 53 scrolls). The diary is written in the blank spaces and margins of letters and on the backs of calendars.
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