Nijūshikō Junpai Zue (二十四孝順拝図会) is an original Edo–Meiji period Japanese woodblock-printed book illustrating the famous Confucian classic “Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars” (二十四孝). Published by Kosetsu Sanjodo (江浙山城堂), this beautifully illustrated edition was used for moral instruction, literacy training, and Confucian education in the 19th century.
This traditional Japanese book features:
• Detailed woodblock illustrations (絵入り)
Full-page scenes depicting classic acts of filial piety, temples, historical landscapes, and moral episodes.
• Classical Japanese text (kanbun-style)
Dense vertical text explaining each story, typical of Edo educational printing.
• Traditional stitched binding & orange cover
A characteristic format of late Edo and early Meiji moral education books.
• Historical & cultural value
The “Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars” originated in China and became one of the most influential moral texts in East Asia, widely taught in temples, terakoya schools, and Confucian academies.
Period: Late Edo – Early Meiji (c. 1840–1870)
Publisher: 江浙山城堂 (Kosetsu Sanjodo)
Format: Woodblock-printed illustrated book (和本)
Language: Classical Japanese (kanbun)
A beautiful, culturally important Japanese antique, ideal for display or collection.
