This is a wonderful
and unique opportunity to acquire a rare piece of
antique Japanese cartography. This large beautiful
wood-block hand coloured & original map of the old
Fukagawa district of the Koto-Ku Ward of Tokyo Bay was
published in the Ansei 5th Year (1858) by Owariya
Seihichi and illustrated by Tomatsu Masakuni.
Although the 1850's in cartographical terms is not
considered old it is the high level of artistry & detail
that makes these wood-block cut maps unique. I doubt
that there is another map from this publisher or
illustrator of Fukagawa available on the market. There
is a level of patience, workmanship & detail about this
map that epitomises many parts of the Japanese culture.
Fukagawa is located 2km east of
Nihombashi, on the Eastern side of the Sumida river,
across Eitai bridge and is re-known for its beautiful
temple, shrines & museums. Fukagawa's greatest shinto
shrine is Tomioka Hachimangu. It was established in 1627
and is Tokyo's largest Hachiman Shrine. During the Edo
period, sumo wrestlers tournaments were held here, and
the "Yokozuna Stone" still shows the name of the
champions. The Tomioka Hachiman Shrine is compares in
size to the Yasukuni or Meiji Shrine. One of the prides
of the shrine is its "ichi-no-miya" mikoshi, the biggest
"mikoshi" in the Kanto region, weighing 4 tonnes. This
mikoshi is actually too heavy to be carried during the
festival. Another reason is its value. It is decorated
with diamonds, rubies and sapphires, and cost a
startling one billion yen.
Japanese maps are well
known for their exceptional beauty and high quality of
workmanship. Early Japanese cartography has its own very
distinctive projection and layout system. Japanese maps
made prior to the appearance of Commodore Perry and the
opening of Japan in the mid to late 1750s often have no
firm directional orientation, incorporate views into the
map proper, and tend to be hand coloured woodblock
prints.
Later Japanese maps, produced in the late Edo and
throughout the Meiji period (early to mid 19th century)
draw heavily upon western maps as models for their own
work. While many of these later maps maintain elements
of traditional Japanese cartography such as the use of
rice paper, woodblock printing, and delicate hand color,
they also incorporate western directional orientation,
projection systems, and structural norms.
As early as the 7th century AD the Japanese acquired
knowledge of surveying and map engraving through their
cultural links with Korea and China: their earliest
surviving map dates from the 14th century. The first
uncertain attempts to show Japan on European maps were
not made until the mid 15th century (Fra Mauro, 1459)
and even in 1540 Munsters map of the New World still
show "zipangu". Jesuit influence in the early days were
responsible for any data collected about Japan at this
time. From 1640 Japan closed its frontiers (except for
the Port of Nagasaki) to the "barbarians" from the West
and consequently there was little opportunity for
compiling data for accurate mapping. It was not until
the 18th century that maps by Valck, de Vaugondy and
others started to show a better outline of the country,
even incorporating Japanese characters into the images.
(Ref: M&B;
Tooley)
General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy
& stable
Paper color: - White
Age of map color: - Original
Colors used: - Blue, yellow, red, green
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 29in x 21in
(740mm x 535mm)
Margins: - Min 1/4in (5mm)
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