Confucio

1800 · ref. 007240 — Japan 1800. Wraps. Very Good. Quarto. Japan Kyoto or Osaka late Edo period circa 1800-1835. Eight surviving fascicles from an original ten-volume woodblock edition in traditional fukuo-toji stab-sewn binding with original blue paper wrappers. Large format: approximately 11 x 7.5 inches 28 x 19 cm. A substantial and visually striking Japanese scholarly edition of the Analects of Confucius Rongo in Japanese; Lunyu in Chinese printed from finely cut woodblocks and issued in ten fascicles with the authoritative Neo-Confucian commentary of Zhu Xi 1130-1200 whose Collected Commentaries Shuchu/Jizhu formed the orthodox basis of Confucian education throughout Tokugawa Japan. The present survival comprises eight fascicles in four books from the original ten-volume set including volumes I II III V VI VII VIII and X with fascicles IV and IX lacking. Terminal leaves confirm the original structure through the imprint "End of Volume Ten." The edition was clearly intended for advanced scholastic use and is distinguished by extensive contemporary or near-contemporary red manuscript kundoku annotations throughout every page. These glosses written in kana and auxiliary notation supplied Japanese grammatical order and pronunciation for reading classical Chinese texts and constitute exceptionally rich evidence of actual Edo-period pedagogical practice. Printed in bold elegant Chinese characters within ruled borders on durable handmade washi paper the edition exhibits all the hallmarks of late Edo Confucian educational printing; right to left reading orientation fukuro-toji binding thick fibrous paper stock and systematic reading marks for Japanese students. The generous format is larger and more imposing than the small commercial school editions commonly encountered and suggests production for serious scholarly or academy use possibly in Kyoto or Osaka the principal centers of educational publishing during the late Tokugawa era. Although the publisher's colophon is not present the typography layout and manuscript annotation style strongly support a date circa 1800-1835. During the Edo period Neo-Cunfucian learning remained central to samurai and bureaucratic education. Condition: eight surviving fascicles from an original ten-volume set. Original blue paper wrappers lightly worn and rubbed with scattered edge wear. Thread bindings intact and sound. Internally remarkably well preserved overall with strong dark impressions and extensive red manuscript annotations throughout. Some light wear as expected from sustained scholarly use. An authentic and highly evocative survival of Tokugawa-period classroom culture. paperback