History of Japanese printing and publishing in the Kamakura and Muromachi periods

In this video, we will look at the history of printing and bookmaking in the medieval period (late 12th to late 16th c.).

Printing and publishing between the eighth and 16th centuries served mainly as a vehicle to spread ideas and knowledge from the Asian mainland. Works in Japanese genres such as waka and monogatari were never published during this 800 year period. All this was to change in the Edo period.

Watch the video to learn more about these developments. Topics covered include:

Kamakura period (1185-1333)

• Kasuga-ban (Kasuga editions)
• Okototen (reading marks)
• Kōya-ban (Kōya editions)
• Jōdokyō-ban (Pure Land editions)

Nambokuchō (1333 – 1392) and Muromachi periods (1392 – 1573)

• Gozan-ban (“Five Mountains”) books

Late-Namboku period and after (~ 1603)

• Printing activity by local daimyō

Keio’s books introduced in the video

1. Myōhō rengekyō (Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law)
   Click to see the image and information
2. Kongōchōkyō daiyuga himitsu shinji hōmon giketsu (Instructions on the Gate of Teaching about the Secret State of Mind of the Great Yoga, the Vajra Pinnacle Scripture)
   Click to see the image and information
3. Ōjōjūin (The Ten Conditions for Rebirth in the Pure Land)
   Click to see the image and information
4. Rekidai teiō hennen goken no zu (Illustrated Genealogies of Emperors and Kings)
   Click to see the image and information
5. Goseibai shikimoku (Formulary of Adjudications)
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If you’re interested in this step

You may be interested to know that we also offer a course on Sino-Japanese Interactions through Rare Books . This course introduces another history of Japanese books, specifically focusing on how China and its culture influenced Japanese books and scholarships.