A rare Meiji-era woodblock edition of Nihon Gaishi (日本外史), the monumental history written by Rai San’yō (頼山陽, 1780–1832).
Originally composed in the late Edo period, Nihon Gaishi is one of Japan’s most celebrated works of historical prose, narrating the rise and fall of samurai clans and the transformation of political power from the Genpei War to the Tokugawa era.
Rai San’yō’s writing combines Confucian moral philosophy, classical Chinese historiography, and poetic expression, capturing both the spirit of bushidō and the ethical lessons of history. During the Meiji Restoration, this book became a key educational text inspiring national identity and admiration for Japan’s warrior past.
This volume preserves elegant vertical typesetting, refined binding, and smooth washi paper characteristic of Meiji academic printing. An outstanding collectible for enthusiasts of Japanese history, Confucian thought, and Edo-Meiji literature.
Title: 日本外史 (Nihon Gaishi)
Author: 頼山陽 (Rai San’yō)
Era: Meiji period (19th century reprint of Edo original)
Content: Historical chronicle of Japan’s samurai and political transformations
Language: Classical Chinese with Japanese annotations
Format: Woodblock-printed Japanese binding (fukurotoji)
