This rare Edo-period Japanese woodblock-printed book is Volume 3 of the first series of Seigetsuya Kenrinroku (星月夜顕臨録 初編 巻之三), a dramatic historical narrative featuring samurai warfare, loyalty, betrayal, and battlefield strategy.
Printed using traditional woodblock techniques, the book combines dense vertical kanbun-style text with striking monochrome illustrations depicting armored warriors, military processions, ambushes, and combat scenes set in mountainous landscapes. The imagery reflects the visual language of late Edo popular literature (yomihon and historical tales), closely related to the world of ukiyo-e narrative illustration.
This volume is an excellent piece for:
Collectors of Edo-period Japanese books
Scholars of samurai history and popular literature
Ukiyo-e and woodblock print enthusiasts
Interior display or archival collections
A genuine and evocative artifact from Japan’s pre-modern publishing culture.
Key Details
Title: 星月夜顕臨録 初編 巻之三
Romanization: Seigetsuya Kenrinroku – First Series, Volume 3
Period: Edo period (late 18th–19th century, approx.)
Printing: Traditional Japanese woodblock
Content: Historical samurai narrative with illustrations
