The evolution of scholar-monks
The activity of Gozan monks was not limited to temple settings. Thanks to the support of the Ashikaga shogunate, they also served as experts of Chinese-style learning and advisers to …
Course: Sino-Japanese Interactions Through Rare Books
The role of immigrant printers
Initially, the Gozan presses published only the sayings of Chinese Zen patriarchs and other works related to the sect [fig. 1]. Fig. 1. Zenrin ruijū, National Museum of Japanese History …
Publications by Zen monasteries
During the Kamakura period, Zen monks played an extremely important role as mediators of Chinese culture. Watch the video and learn about Gozan-ban editions, the books printed by Zen temples. …
The Kanazawa Library
In this article, we explore the broader cultural context behind the emergence of print culture in Japan by talking about the Kanazawa library (Kanazawa bunko), a historical library established in …
The contribution of foreign craftsmen
From Nara, printing spread to the other temples of the Kinai region (the provinces around Nara and Kyoto), including the large temples of the so-called “new” schools of Heian Buddhism. …
The Kasuga-ban editions
Books printed by the Kōfukuji temple are called Kasuga editions. When did they begin and what sort of role did they play in Japanese society during the Heian (794-1185) and …
From sutra rubbings to woodblock printing
During the Heian period (794 – 1185), printing evolved from short texts to full-size books. What brought about these changes? How did printing technology develop to make them possible? Let’s …
The mystery of dharani
The minuscule scrolls and their tiny wooden casings known as the Hyakumantō dharani (Dharani Invocations of the One Million Pagodas) were once thought to be the oldest datable printed text …
What is the Shōsōin?
The ancient books we look at pique our curiosity and inspire us to learn more about the history of books in East Asia. These texts have traveled down to us …
Texts reach Yamato
How did book culture first come to Yamato (ancient name of Japan) from China? Who brought the first books and how were they received by Japanese society? Watch Prof. Sumiyoshi …
Chinese textual culture: the invention of paper
Let’s take a look at books in ancient China. Before the invention of paper, books were made by stringing together bamboo slips. Periods of Chinese history that appear in the …
Texts and Mahayana Buddhism
It would be impossible to talk about East Asian textual culture without considering the role of Mahayana Buddhism. Before reading the article below, let us watch the video and reflect …
A glossary of terms related to the Sino-Japanese War
Below is a glossary of terms relating to Sino-Japanese interactions through rare books. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q …
East Asian History at a Glance
Books are part of the flow of history. But it is not only about Japanese history. Many books travel over the seas from time to time for several reasons, and …
From monk-scholars to kangakusha
In Week 4, we will learn more about the development of scholarship during the Edo period, after the end of the golden age of temple scholarship, by looking at some …