Nijūshikō: Meiji Shinkoku (The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars: Newly Engraved in the Meiji Period)

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Nijūshikō: Meiji Shinkoku ["The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars: Newly Engraved in the Meiji Period"]

Komiyama, Gorō [edited by].

Nihonbashi, [Tōkyō]: Makino Sōjirō, Meiji 17 [1884].

A Confucian guide to ethics (especially filial piety) originally produced in the Yuan dynasty (1260–1368) by Guo Jujing, The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars experienced incredible popularity in Japan, where it was used as didactic material in terakoya temple schools. In this mid-Meiji edition, the twenty-four moral exemplars have been illustrated and their tales recounted in copperplate-printed scenes. Copperplate printing surged in popularity in the Meiji period, and this book may have been produced in a small (8.7 x 5.9 cm) format in order to demonstrate the fine lines possible using that technology (the upper wrapper, however, has been woodblock printed in colour). While the headings are in kanji, the pure kana transcriptions of the stories suggest that the book was produced for women or children.

One four-hole-bound (yotsumetoji) volume, complete, on double leaves, traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Original wrappers lightly soiled, ex-ownership inscription to lower. Thumbing, light creases, and occasional marks internally. Ex-ownership inscription to page facing colophon. 24 leaves. 8.7 x 5.9 cm.

Nijūshikō: Meiji Shinkoku (The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars: Newly Engraved in the Meiji Period)
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