An original Meiji 33 (1900) edition of 女子國文 (Joshi Kokubun), Volume 4 — a beautifully printed educational textbook for girls, published in Tokyo by Yoshikawa Hanshichi (吉川半七) and edited by Imaizumi Teisuke (今泉定介).
Created during Japan’s rapid modernization, this book served as part of the national curriculum for female education, blending classical Japanese prose, waka poetry, and moral instruction. Each section presents refined examples of traditional writing — on themes such as nature, beauty, virtue, and filial piety — drawn from early poets and courtly literature.
Printed in clear movable-type kanji and kana, this Meiji-era volume exemplifies the early transformation of Japanese publishing: balancing Edo-period aesthetics with modern typography and educational reform. The book’s traditional stitched binding (fukurotoji) and washi paper have aged gracefully, retaining its soft texture and ink character.
This volume is not only a glimpse into Japan’s educational history but also a reflection of women’s intellectual and cultural life in the Meiji era — when the study of language was considered a moral and aesthetic art.
An authentic Meiji-period women’s language textbook, printed in 1900 and preserved in its original form. A significant artifact for collectors of Japanese educational history, literature, and Meiji printing, offering insight into how classical culture was taught to young women during Japan’s modernization.
