Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (南總里見八犬傳), or The Tale of the Eight Dogs of the Satomi Clan of Nansō, is one of Japan’s greatest literary masterpieces of the Edo period.
Written by Kyokutei Bakin (曲亭馬琴) over nearly thirty years (1814–1842), it is an epic tale of loyalty, honor, and karmic destiny, blending samurai heroism with spiritual allegory.
This Meiji-era woodblock-printed volume (No. 12) continues the saga of the eight samurai brothers—each embodying one of the Confucian virtues represented by the character “犬” (inu, dog) in their names.
The novel was illustrated by Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞) and became a cornerstone of Japanese popular fiction, influencing kabuki, ukiyo-e, and early modern manga.
Printed on handmade washi paper with fine black-and-white woodblock illustrations, this edition features elegant vertical text in kanji and kana mix, bordered with delicate linework and accompanied by dynamic narrative illustrations typical of Meiji-period storytelling art.
A vivid artifact of Japanese literary and visual culture, bridging the worlds of samurai legend and romantic imagination.
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Title: 南總里見八犬傳 (Nansō Satomi Hakkenden, “The Tale of the Eight Dogs of the Satomi Clan of Nansō”)
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Volume: 第十二巻 (Volume 12)
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Author: Kyokutei Bakin (曲亭馬琴)
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Illustrator: Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞)
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Printing: Meiji-era woodblock reprint (明治再版)
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Publisher: 柳川堂信 (Yanagawa Dōshin)
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Binding: Fukuro-toji (traditional side-stitch binding)
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Paper: Handmade washi
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Cover: Purple embossed patterned paper with printed title slip
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Date: Meiji period (late 19th century, c. 1870–1890)
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Origin: Japan
Hakkenden represents the pinnacle of Edo literary ambition, combining Buddhist karma, Confucian ethics, and bushidō ideals.
Its eight warriors, born from a miraculous fusion of a dog’s spirit and a human soul, symbolize faith, loyalty, justice, and virtue.
This Meiji reprint captures the transition from Edo-period literature to modern Japanese publishing, when woodblock printing coexisted with early movable type.
A remarkable collectible for lovers of Japanese narrative art, samurai literature, and ukiyo-e illustration.
