A rare Meiji-era woodblock-printed edition of the legendary Japanese samurai epic Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (南總里見八犬傳) — authored by Kyokutei Bakin (曲亭馬琴), one of Japan’s most renowned Edo-period novelists.
Originally serialized between 1814 and 1842, Hakkenden (“The Legend of the Eight Dog Warriors”) is among the longest and most celebrated works in Japanese literature, blending heroic adventure, mysticism, and moral philosophy.
This particular volume (Volume 10) was printed in the late Meiji period (circa 1880s–1890s) by Eishōdō of Asakusa (浅草英正堂). The text is rendered in vertical classical Japanese, richly illustrated with fine woodblock prints showing scenes of battle, brotherhood, and virtue. Each image captures the spirit of Edo storytelling — samurai duels, loyalty oaths, and moments of poetic stillness.
Bound in a traditional red patterned fukurotoji cover (袋綴じ) with a vertical title slip, this book embodies the aesthetic and narrative style of Japan’s transition from the Edo to Meiji era — when traditional woodblock printing met modern publishing culture.
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Title: 南總里見八犬傳 (Nansō Satomi Hakkenden – The Legend of the Eight Dog Warriors)
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Author: 曲亭馬琴 (Kyokutei Bakin, 1767–1848)
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Illustrator: 柳川重信 (Yanagawa Shigenobu)
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Publisher: 浅草英正堂 (Asakusa Eisendō)
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Date: Meiji period (c. 1880s–1890s)
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Volume: 第十巻 (Volume 10)
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Printing method: Woodblock print on washi paper
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Binding: Traditional Japanese fukurotoji stitched binding
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Language: Classical Japanese
Nansō Satomi Hakkenden is a milestone of Edo-period fiction, exploring Confucian virtues such as loyalty, filial piety, and courage through the intertwined fates of eight samurai warriors, each bearing a bead inscribed with one of the Eight Virtues of Confucianism.
This Meiji-era reprint preserves the visual drama of early ukiyo-e illustration and the narrative rhythm of serialized Edo novels, making it an exceptional artifact for collectors of Japanese literature, art history, and cultural storytelling.
Its fusion of moral philosophy, adventure, and visual artistry continues to inspire modern Japanese media — from kabuki and film to manga and anime.
