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Or.64.b.21
- Record Id:
- 032-003953519
- Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
- 032-003953519
- MDARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100130151148.0x000001
- LARK:
- SLARK:
- Format:
- ISAD(G)
- Reference (shelfmark):
- Or.64.b.21
- Title:
- Kudensho 口傳書 [口伝書]
- Scope & Content:
-
Author/compiler: Unknown. Attributed to Matsuda Dōi (Hisamoto) 松田道以 (久元), whose signature appears in a manuscript shikigo appended to this and other surviving copies of the work. Matsuda was an expert in the appraisal of swords, associated with the Hon'ami 本阿彌 school.
Imprint: N.p., n.d., but published before Keichō 13 (1608), probably in the preceding year, 1607. (See dated shikigo transcribed below.)
Description: 1 kan, 1 satsu. ff. [38] (printed) + [1] (flyleaf in manuscript), unnumbered. 25.8 x 18.3 cm. Fukurotoji.
Movable type. Printing frame 21.7 x 15.3 cm. No borders. No printed hanshin.
Hiragana-majiri text without reading marks. 11 lines to page. 16-19 characters to line.
Original pale-buff covers, overprinted with a faint design in mica reminiscent of Kōetsu-bon 光悦本. Inner surface of covers thickly coated with gofun 胡粉, now flaking off. Part of original vermilion title slip remains, bearing lower half of manuscript gedai: [ ? ] densho □傳書. Title from naidai at head of text. In a modern brocade chitsu case.
Edition: The only known edition printed with movable type. None of the extant copies has a printed colophon; all have a manuscript shikigo signed by Matsuda Dōi, dated variously 11th and 12th months Keichō 12 (1607) and 3rd and 4th months Keichō 13 (1608). Manuscript shikigo on end flyleaf recto reads: 慶長十三年 ／ 申ノ卯月吉日 ／ 松田道以久元 (花押), followed by the name Matsui Shichirōemon 松井七郎右衞門, partly obliterated, and a further line wholly deleted and illegible. The likelihood is that this work was published by Matsuda Dōi in a limited edition for selective distribution towards the end of Keichō 12, 1607.
Contents: A work disclosing secret oral traditions on the evaluation of swords.
- Collection Area:
- Oriental Manuscripts
- Project / Collection:
- Japanese woodblock materials
- Hierarchy Tree:
- [{ "id" : "032-003953519", "parent" : "#", "text" : "Or.64.b.21: Kudensho 口傳書 [口伝書]" , "li_attr" : {"class": "orderable"} }]
- Hierarchy Record Ids:
- 032-003953519
- Is part of:
- not applicable
- Hierarchy:
- 032-003953519
- Container:
- not applicable
- Record Type (Level):
- Fonds
- Extent:
- 1 volume
- Digitised Content:
- Languages:
- Japanese
- Scripts:
- Japanese
- Start Date:
- 1607
- End Date:
- 1607
- Date Range:
- 1607
- Era:
- CE
- Place of Origin:
- Japan
- Access:
-
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- User Conditions:
- Physical Characteristics:
-
Condition: Good, apart from some soiled lower margins and some water-staining in latter half of book.
Impression: An impression from unworn type.
Seals of ownership: Two square red seals, one reading Matsushita bunko 松下文庫, on first page of text.
Manuscript notes: Notes in red beside names in genealogical tables, ff. [30-31] . Manuscript list of swordsmiths' names on end flyleaf verso. Note dated Tenpō 7 (1836) on inner back cover reads: 于時天保七丙申年 ／ 仲冬上旬求之 ／ 松下.
- Source of Acquisition:
- Acquired from Kōbunsō, 15 March 1974.
- Finding Aids:
- Kenneth Gardner, Descriptive Catalogue of Japanese books in the British Library printed before 1700 (London and Tenri, 1993). C. Japanese works 和書 19. Military arts 武術
- Publications:
- Kokatsujiban no kenkyū 古活字版の研究, pp. 406, 426, p1. 275; Ryūmon bunko zenpon shomoku 竜門文庫善本書目, p. 168; Kōbunsō kohanpon mokuroku 弘文荘古版本目録, p. 182; Obama bunko kisho chinpon tenkan nyūsatsu mokuroku 小汀文庫稀書珍本展観入札目録, pp. 45 (plate) and 71.
- Material Type:
- Archives and Manuscripts
- Legal Status:
- Not Public Record(s)