The most beautiful book of the Ming Dynasty

• 8 Japanese-style paperback volumes, (period bindings, renewed sutures, 28 x 19,6) in a thick filled folder, lined with a modern brown canvas slipcase. Each volume has a different title and the set includes nearly 370 woodcuts. Titles: – Toshi Gogon (cover a little damaged, verse work on the first 7 pages. – Baichiku Rangiku, illustrations of plums, bamboos, orchids and chrysanthemums (trace of humidity on the last 15 pages). – Mokuhon Kacho, illustrations of flowers and birds. – Sohon kashi, illustrations of plants. – Konon Gafu, illustrations of ancient and modern paintings. – Meiko Senfu, illustrations of fan paintings. – Toshi Rokugon, illustrations of Chinese poems. – Toshi Shichigon, illustrations of Chinese poems (cover a little damaged) (ref. 104092)

It is the most beautiful book of the Ming Dynasty, with nearly 370 woodcuts. Each volume has a different title. The 8 volumes are known as “Hasshu Gafu”. Almost all illustrations were based on the work of famous Chinese painters. The only Chinese edition was published in the early 1620s and is untraceable. This, second Japanese edition, dated 1710, is a great rarity: only 3 complete copies of the 8 volumes are known. The publication of this work had a considerable influence on Japanese painters of the 17th & 18th centuries. The very high quality of the calligraphy provides proof of a work of great importance. Stamp of Saito Shozo (writer, first half of the 20th century) on each of the volumes.