Ba shogu ko zu [manuscript].
Jonathan Hill, bookseller, description: Manuscript on paper, with five double-page & 30 brush drawings of ceremonial horse tack (some heightened in color); two double-page & eight full-page images of horses with their pressure points (many of which are finely colored); and two pages of illus...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | Japanese |
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| Summary: | Jonathan Hill, bookseller, description: Manuscript on paper, with five double-page & 30 brush drawings of ceremonial horse tack (some heightened in color); two double-page & eight full-page images of horses with their pressure points (many of which are finely colored); and two pages of illus. of horse teeth. 19 folding leaves (265 x 190 mm), cont. wrappers flecked with gold (some worming, carefully repaired, throughout), new stitching, title label on upper cover “Ba shogu ko zu” [“Various traditional horse tack illustrated”]. Japan: in Japanese “copied by Ryoba [which means “fine horse”] Hattori in 1860 from Ise’s text written in 1783.” A manuscript copy of the text by Sadatake Ise on horses and horsemanship which was written in 1783 and published posthumously in his Teijo zakki [Miscellaneous Notes] of 1843. Ise (1717-84), belonged to the ancient family of Sadatsugu, who were for generations masters of ceremonies to the Muromachi Shogunate. Ise was a scholar of yusokukojitsu (the study of the ancient records, statutes, codes, and customs of the palace), and wrote important books on these subjects as well as origata, the foundation of what we today know as origami; military practices; and costumes. The first two leaves depict ornate bits, bit rings, and bit shanks belonging to the Mizuno family. This is followed by three leaves of more bits from other, un-named families. The manuscript continues with detailed images of further parts of bits, breastplates, and other horse tack. All these illustrations have explanatory notes regarding each part and its function. The remainder of the manuscript is concerned with horse medicine. The finely drawn and colored images depict pressure points on the horses’s bodies, all named. They serve as guides to each horse’s health. At the end, there are two pages of illustrations of rows of teeth of horses from age one to twelve. The illustrations depict how teeth wear unevenly, beginning at age four. The final page contains a song or poem describing the five elements. Apart from the worming, which we do not find offensive and has been carefully repaired, in fresh condition. Preserved in chitsu. |
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| Item Description: | Cover title. Date at end. |
| Physical Description: | 19 unnumbered double leaves : illustrations ; 27 cm |