Experience the world of Edo-period Japan through this beautifully preserved edition of 万宝全書 (Manpō Zensho) — one of the most popular illustrated encyclopedias and fortune-telling manuals of the 18th–19th century.
This original woodblock-printed volume brings together traditional knowledge, symbolic interpretation, and richly detailed illustrations, offering a rare insight into how people of the Edo period understood dreams, omens, nature, and everyday life.
Historical Background
Manpō Zensho was widely circulated during the late Edo period as a general reference guide and fortune-telling compendium. Mixing scholarship, folklore, and practical knowledge, it served as a household encyclopedia for merchants, monks, craftsmen, and scholars.
Its pages combine elements of:
- Dream interpretation (夢占)
- Good & bad omens (吉凶占い)
- Seal stamp designs & symbolic characters (合類印譜 / 印文)
- Stories of gods, monks, and historical figures
- Animal behavior and what it predicts
- Astronomical and natural omens
- Illustrated moral scenes and teachings
These woodblock books were heavily used in daily life and therefore rarely survive in complete condition.
Contents of This Volume
✔ Illustrations of deities, monks, scholars, and noble figures
✔ Scenes of nature, animals, and symbolic landscapes
✔ Seal design charts and talismanic characters
✔ Divination texts explaining signs and predictions
✔ Classical Japanese text in beautiful Edo handwriting
✔ Original publisher stamps and red seals
✔ Traditional blue cover with Edo binding (和本)
This copy offers a dense combination of visual culture, folklore, and religious symbolism.
Rarity & Collectible Value
Because Manpō Zensho was a practical household reference, most copies were used until destroyed.
Surviving examples with complete illustrated sections, strong impressions, and readable text are considered highly collectible.
This book is ideal for:
- Collectors of Japanese antiquarian books
- Museums & archives
- Scholars of Edo-period culture, folklore, and religion
- Ukiyo-e and woodblock print enthusiasts
- Calligraphy & seal-stamp researchers
A beautiful and historically significant artifact from Japan’s feudal era.
