Ka’i 花彙 (Collection of Flowers, eight volumes, 1759–65) is an illustrated botanical work published in eighteenth-century Japan, collaboratively authored by the affluent merchant Shimada Mitsufusa 島田充房 (?–1782), who had a deep interest in horticulture, and the prominent herbalist Ono Ranzan (1729–1810). The first two volumes (Herbs: Kusa no 草之 1 and 2) were written by Mitsufusa, while the second six volumes (Herbs: Kusa no 草之 3, 4 and Trees: Ki no 木之 1–4) were composed by Ranzan at Mitsufusa’s request. According to Mitsufusa’s preface, the concept of depicting the “flowers” of a plant through detailed and lifelike (hyokushin 逼真）illustrations originated with him. However, the respective roles and contributions of the two authors in compiling the entire work remain insufficiently clarified.

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During Japan’s late Edo period, numerous translations of Western medical terminology emerged, particularly in the field of anatomy. Previous scholarship has largely focused on anatomical texts published in Edo, the origin of many influential works. While Rangaku (Dutch studies) flourished in other regions as well, regional medical vocabularies outside of Edo have received limited scholarly attention. Unagami Zuiō (海上随鷗, 1758–1811), compiler of the Dutch-Japanese dictionary Haruma Wage 波留麻和解, established private academies for Dutch studies in Kyoto and Osaka and played a key role in the development of Rangaku in Kyoto.

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Kyoto Confucian physician Yamamoto Hōzan 山本封山 (1742–1813) served as a member of the ‘Kōjo-shū’ 綱所衆 (attendant group) at Honganji temple (commonly known as Nishi Honganji temple) for 16 years from 1770 to 1786, working under Rev. Monnyo 文如上人, heir to the head priest. While working, he devoted himself to reading in his private library named ‘Dokusho Shitsu’ 読書室 (Reading Room) and at the same time cultivated friendships with a wide range of hommes de lettres, engaging in literary exchanges spanning both Japanese and Chinese culture. In his diary from his time at Nishi Honganji temple, titled Dokusho Shitsu Hikki 読書室筆 記, the friends he visited most frequently include the Chinese scholars Minagawa Ki’en 皆川淇園, Shibano Ritsuzan 柴野栗山, and Murase Kōtei 村瀬栲亭, as well as the Man’yōshū scholar Tonami Imamichi 礪波今道 and Uchiike Hakukō 内池伯厚.

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Among the materials of the Yamamoto Reading Room 山本読書室 is a scroll entitled Letter of Severance to Shan Juyuan 与山巨源絶交書, written in the hand of the Yuan-period scholar Zhao Mengfu 趙孟頫. As is well known, this letter was sent by Chi Kang 嵇康 of Wei 魏 kingdom to his friend Shan Tao 山濤 (courtesy name, Juyuan 巨源). This work by Zhao Mengfu, an outstanding calligrapher, based on the Letter of Severance, is considered a masterpiece from his very late period.

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