A rare original Meiji 7 (1874) edition of 《輿地誌畧》 (Yochi Shiryaku) — one of the most influential geography textbooks of early modern Japan.
Printed during Japan’s rapid Westernization, this illustrated volume introduced Japanese students to global science, geography, world cultures, and foreign lands for the very first time.
Historical Background
Originally written in the late Edo period and continuously updated into the Meiji era, Yochi Shiryaku became the most widely used geography textbook in Japan.
This 1874 printing dates to a pivotal moment when Japan had just opened to the world (after 1868), and education reforms emphasized Western-style scientific knowledge.
Books from this period were printed using traditional woodblock techniques but contained newly imported Western concepts, making them extremely collectible.
What This Book Contains
This volume is richly illustrated and includes:
🗺 World Maps & Country Descriptions
- Detailed woodblock world maps
- Regional maps of Asia and Europe
- Explanations of continents, seas, and global climate zones
🌍 Ethnographic Illustrations
Hand-drawn depictions of:
- Indigenous peoples of Asia, Siberia, and the Arctic
- Traditional costumes and customs
- Nomadic tribes, hunters, shamans
🐘 Exotic Animals & Natural History
Beautiful natural-history illustrations, including:
- Elephant
- Crocodile
- Rhinoceros
- Monkeys
- Birds and reptiles
🌱 Botanical Drawings
- Medicinal plants
- Fruits and foliage from tropical climates
🪐 Scientific / Astronomy Section
- Early diagrams of a Western armillary sphere (天球儀)
- Introductory explanations of Earth rotation and global latitude
- This mix of science + culture + world maps makes the book an exceptional collectible example of Meiji educational reform.
Rarity & Collectibility
- Original Meiji 7 (1874) print — 150 years old
- Complete with maps and illustrations (often missing in surviving copies)
- Early Meiji educational prints are highly sought after by collectors of Japanese history, anthropology, and pre-modern geography
- Books showing global cultures and animals are especially scarce
- Surviving examples in this condition are considered rare, especially with clear illustrations.
Item Details
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Title: 輿地誌畧 (Yochi Shiryaku)
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Edition: Meiji 7 (1874)
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Format: Woodblock-printed Japanese book
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Content: World geography, animals, plants, maps, ethnographic illustrations
A valuable item for collectors of:
Japanese Meiji history, world maps, woodblock printing, anthropology, ethnography, and early educational materials.
