Yochi Shiryaku Volume 1 (輿地誌畧 巻一) is an authentic 1887 Meiji-period geography and astronomy textbook, compiled by scholar 内田公雄 (Uchida Kimio) and officially published by the Japanese Ministry of Education (文部省刊行). This foundational introductory volume was used throughout Japan as part of the nation’s modernization and scientific reform during the early Meiji era.
This first volume presents students with a complete introduction to scientific geography, including:
Included in Volume 1:
Astronomy diagrams explaining the Earth’s rotation and revolution
Four seasons diagram (spring, summer, autumn, winter formation)
Tide diagrams showing gravitational effects of the moon and sun
Basic global geography theory as taught in Meiji schools
The textbook is printed in traditional woodblock format, with dense classical Japanese text and finely produced scientific illustrations. It reflects Japan’s effort to introduce Western science to students in the late 19th century, making it an important historical document for collectors of Meiji education, Japanese textbooks, early astronomy, cartography, and world geography.
