A Consideration on the Publishing Situation Regarding Senjimon in the Edo Period: Wariincho and Kaihan Onnegai Kakihikae

Abstract

  The text of Senjimon is said to have a close relevance with calligraphy textbooks. Also, it is one of the important books imported into Japan in ancient times. There are copies of Senjimon that were published during the Muromachi period that were used as prototypes of calligraphy textbooks. During the Edo period, publication of Senjimon expanded on a wave of prosperity in the printing industry. The research results of publication records based on two publication catalogs in the mid-Edo period, Wariincho and Kaihan Onnegai Kakihikae, brought some macroscopic views on the issue. The analytical data based on Wariincho records indicate that the number of Senjimon-related books published in Japan during the Kyoho and Bunka eras totals 108, which represents around 1.41 percent of all the books and around 12.26 percent of all the calligraphy textbooks listed in the catalog. On the other hand, the analytical data based on Kaihan Onnegai Kakihikae record show that the number of Senjimonrelated books published in Osaka, which totals 50, represents around 1.04 percent of all the books and around 16.13 percent of all the calligraphy textbooks listed in the catalog. These Senjimon-related books include various versions of Senjimon other than Shūkei Senjimon. They can be classified by their functions in those intended for calligraphy, reading, both for calligraphy and reading, and calligraphic dictionaries. When the nationalities of the source books are focused upon, the two catalogs show similar results: 24 percent or 22 percent are of Chinese origin, and 76 percent or 78 percent are of Japanese origin. The two catalogs show similarity in terms of the number of Senjimon published, their functions, and the countries of origin of their source books. Although the volume of existing materials on publication is not sufficient enough, results of similar research will show an overview of the publishing situations regarding Senjimon, which can be also utilized as fundamental research on bokujōs of Senjimon itself.