Sangen Seisei Zu by Ochiai Naozumi
[Japan] Fascinating, woodblock printed, illustrated book by Naozumi Ochiai (1840-1891), who was a scholar of early Japanese studies and a Shinto priest. He took part in the Boshin War (1868-69) with his elder brother and after the war served as a priest at shrines, including Ise Jingu. The book appears to be his attempt to show the origin of the World and how at all began. One of the illlustrations has labels such as 'Amateraru Omikami' [Shinto religion's Goddess of the Sun], 'the Celestial Sphere', 'Earth' and the 'Spring sphere' [which seems to be the core of the Earth]. Only a couple of copies found in Japanese institutions. The title, 'Sangen Seisei Zu' literally means something like, 'Illustrations of the Creation of the Original Three'. Perhaps that refers to the Earth, moon and sun.
No place. Ochiai Naozumi. Afterword dated 1865.
13 leaves. 24.4 x 17.9cm.
In good condition. Old worm trails have been profesionally repaired and string binding replaced. Some age wear and marks/stains affecting some pages. In recent, custom made folding case. b36121772
