The Bodleian Library houses one of the oldest institutional collections of Japanese rare books and manuscripts in Europe, dating back to the first half of the seventeenth century.
Leading scholars and experts provide a tantalising glimpse into the collection's rich and multifaceted history, celebrating five centuries of collecting. Peter Kornicki investigates early encounters between England and Japan, explaining how Japanese books and manuscripts arrived in England from the archipelago in the seventeenth century. Melissa McCormick examines a narrative handscroll compared with other lavishly illuminated manuscripts, which she argues were produced for bridal dowry. Edward Kamens discusses deluxe poetry anthologies, which arrived at the Bodleian at the turn of the century. Marinita Stiglitz delves into the production and use of handmade paper, colour pigments and ink. Katja Triplett discusses the production of printed publications by the Jesuit Mission Press and Laura Moretti offers an overview of the thriving publishing market in Japan in the early modern and modern period.
Among the stunning items are richly painted handscrolls, the first Japanese books to arrive at the Bodleian in the seventeenth century, and the oldest trade agreement between England and Japan.
By:
Bodleian Library Publishing
Imprint: Bodleian Library
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 259mm,
Width: 237mm,
ISBN: 9781851245901
ISBN 10: 1851245901
Pages: 264
Publication Date: 01 November 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
foreword viii Introduction History and provenance of the Bodleian Japanese collection, Alessandro Bianchi 1 Early encounters with Japan: the first Japanese books to reach Europe, Peter Kornicki 2 The gilded library: bridal treasuries, illustrated manuscripts and The Song of Everlasting Sorrow, Melissa McCormick 3 Scenes of the Four Seasons and Teika’s Ten Styles: two suites, two views, Edward Kam ens 4 The Japanese book: paper, colour and lustre, Marinita Stigliz 5 Typography and Jesuit mission prints, Katja Triplett 6 Commercial publications in Tokugawa and Meiji Japan, La ura Moretti
The Bodleian Library produces beautiful and authoritative books that help bring the riches of Oxford's libraries to readers worldwide. They publish on an extensive range of subjects, including catalogs and other titles related to their exhibitions, illustrated and non-illustrated thematic works and facsimiles, gift books, and children's books and stationery.
Reviews for Splendours of Japan: Highlights from the Bodleian Library
This is a beautifully wrought volume by Bodleian Library Publishing, produced in wide format, copiously illustrated with a lustrous red, braided bookmarker, a treasure in its own right. -- Richard Lofthouse * QUAD *
