A remarkable late-Edo to early-Meiji Japanese Buddhist pilgrimage book (納経帳 / Nōkyōchō), preserving the handwritten and woodblock-printed records of temples visited across Kyushu, including Kumamoto, Nagasaki, and Saga.
This travel register includes sutra excerpts, temple names, and deity invocations, often annotated by hand, revealing the journey of a devoted pilgrim through sacred routes. The opening section features a hiragana syllabary — a rare inclusion in such books — possibly used for chant practice or literacy training during travel.
Printed in classical vertical script on washi paper, the text combines woodblock printing with handwritten ink additions, reflecting personal devotion and the educational traditions of 19th-century Buddhist pilgrims.
Despite visible age wear, insect loss, and discoloration, this piece remains a powerful witness to Japan’s spiritual travel culture and folk Buddhism during the transition from the Edo to Meiji era.
Ideal for collectors of Japanese Buddhist manuscripts, Edo-period books, religious history, and cultural travel documents.
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Title: Buddhist Pilgrimage Record Book (納経帳 / Nōkyōchō)
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Date: Late Edo to early Meiji (c. 1850–1870)
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Region: Kyushu (Kumamoto, Saga, Nagasaki)
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Content: Temple lists, deity names, mantras, hiragana chart
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Technique: Woodblock print with manuscript additions
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Material: Washi paper
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Binding: Horizontal format, stitched binding (yokohon)
