An exceptional original Meiji-era woodblock-printed book from the historical series Meiji Taiheiki (明治太平記), written by Murai Gensai (村井弦齋) and illustrated by Sensai Eitaku (鮮齋永濯) — two influential artists and writers of the early Meiji period.
Published by Enjudō, Tokyo, around the late 1870s, this Volume 13 captures the political turbulence and modernization of Japan during the Boshin War and early Meiji Restoration. The frontispiece features vividly colored portraits of samurai and officials dressed in both traditional kimono and Western uniforms, symbolizing Japan’s transformation from a feudal society to a modern empire.
The Meiji Taiheiki series is a serialized historical chronicle modeled after the medieval Taiheiki (Chronicles of Great Peace), but reimagined for the 19th century. It narrates major national events — from civil conflicts to the reorganization of government — combining heroic storytelling, eyewitness reports, and moral lessons in the style of popular Meiji journalism.
Each page is printed from hand-carved woodblocks on fine washi paper, sewn in the fukuro-toji (stab binding) format. The interior includes both text and detailed illustrations — dynamic battle scenes, samurai duels, and depictions of Western military officers, all rendered in the hybrid style of ukiyo-e realism and Meiji reportage.
This copy is in very good antique condition, complete with its original green embossed cover and crisp printing. It stands as a rare artifact from the first generation of modern Japanese publishing — where traditional artistry met industrial-era storytelling.
Due to their fragile nature and limited runs, surviving volumes of Meiji Taiheiki are highly collectible among enthusiasts of Meiji-period history, samurai epics, and early Japanese print culture.
