This is an authentic Meiji-era Japanese woodblock-printed book, 二十四輩順拝図会 巻四 (Nijūshihai Junpai Zue – Volume 4), dedicated to the sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites of Echigo Province (越後). Part of a multi-volume series used by monks, pilgrims, and devotees, this rare 19th-century volume offers:
Detailed descriptions of major temples in Echigo
Pilgrimage routes and local legends associated with the 24 Buddhist patriarchs
Beautiful monochrome woodblock illustrations of monks, travellers, mountains, waterfalls, villages, and sacred halls
Classical Japanese calligraphy carved meticulously into woodblocks
Historical and devotional context for each site
The book captures the spiritual landscape of Echigo during the Edo–Meiji transition, combining religious teaching with travel literature. It is an excellent example of how pilgrimage culture shaped regional identity in early modern Japan.
An outstanding opportunity to acquire a genuine Meiji pilgrimage guide from a series rarely found complete.
