This authentic Edo-period Japanese woodblock book is Volume 2 of Saizō Keigetsu Yawa (綵像桂月夜話), an illustrated work of popular narrative literature (yomihon) that blends moral storytelling, dramatic prose, and expressive woodblock illustrations.
Compiled by Uoyama Yasumi (魚山保躬), this work belongs to the flourishing world of late Edo popular fiction, where literature served both as entertainment and moral reflection. The text is printed in classical Japanese, accompanied by finely detailed black-and-white woodblock illustrations depicting dramatic scenes, figures in period dress, and emotionally charged moments beneath moonlit landscapes.
The book is bound in the traditional fukuro-toji (stab-binding) format using handmade washi paper, and retains its original aged covers. Publisher seals and colophons visible at the end confirm its Edo-period production.
KEY FEATURES
Title: 綵像桂月夜話 (Saizō Keigetsu Yawa)
Volume: 巻之二 (Volume 2)
Period: Edo period
Author/Compiler: 魚山保躬
Genre: Yomihon / illustrated narrative fiction
Printing: Woodblock
Language: Classical Japanese
Illustrations: Yes
Binding: Fukuro-toji
Authenticity: Genuine Edo-period edition
Literary & Cultural Context
Works like Keigetsu Yawa were widely read among educated townspeople and samurai during the Edo period. These stories often explore:
Human emotion and moral consequence
Loyalty, betrayal, love, and tragedy
Buddhist and Confucian ethical themes
The inclusion of illustrations (saizō) made such books especially appealing and accessible, bridging the gap between elite literature and popular readership.
