Discover an exceptional Edo-period woodblock book: 合類印譜 (Gorui Inpu) — an illustrated reference manual dedicated to seal designs, symbolic characters, fortune interpretation, and traditional Japanese seal aesthetics.
Produced in the late Edo period (18th–19th century), this book belongs to the broader encyclopedic tradition of 万宝全書 (Manpō Zenshō), a popular series that preserved knowledge on daily life, omens, and symbolic arts.
Historical Background
Seals (印, inkan/hanko) were essential in Japanese culture for:
- Identifying artists
- Signing official documents
- Marking artworks
- Expressing personal or spiritual identity
- Conveying symbolic meanings and luck
Inpu (印譜) books like this one functioned as pattern catalogs, used by:
- Calligraphers
- Seal carvers
- Buddhist monks
- Artists
- Scholars
- Merchants
They also served as fortune-telling references, explaining how the shapes of seals relate to auspicious or inauspicious meanings.
Contents of This Volume
This book includes a rich variety of:
✔ Dozens of seal designs (square, round, oval, clerical style)
✔ Name-seal models and signature styles
✔ Symbolic characters & talismanic writing
✔ Explanations of seal meaning and use
✔ Illustrated scenes of monks, sages, and narratives
✔ Classical Japanese text in beautiful Edo handwriting
✔ Publisher’s red seals & period calligraphy
✔ Original blue Edo binding (和本)
Every page is carved and printed using traditional woodblock techniques on handmade washi paper.
Collector’s Value
Unlike typical Manpō Zenshō encyclopedias, this volume focuses heavily on 印譜 (seal catalog) material, making it particularly valuable for:
- Collectors of Edo-period books
- Calligraphy and seal-stamp researchers
- Museums and archives
- Scholars of Japanese print culture
- Artists inspired by traditional designs
Complete Edo 印譜 books are uncommon, especially with intact illustrations and strong impressions.
A Genuine Artifact of Japanese Culture
This is an authentic, original Edo-period woodblock book with visible age patina, signs of historical use, and the unmistakable character of a working reference manual from Japan’s past.
A superb addition to any collection of Japanese antiquarian books, Buddhist art, calligraphy, or Edo-era cultural artifacts.
