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Japan & South West Scotland

Culture and Entertainment

Jōruri zue woodblock-printed book

Period:
Late 19th Century
Description:

 

Jōruri zue (Illustrated Jōruri Chants) by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), woodblock-printed book, published posthumously in 1891

 

Jōruri is a form of storytelling which is accompanied by shamisen (a three-stringed instrument), and is particularly associated with bunraku puppet theatre.  Audiences would have bought books like this because they liked to chant along with their favourite scenes.

 

Japanese texts were read vertically from top to bottom and from right to left - starting from what non Japanese readers would consider to be the back of the book.

Place of Production:
Japan
Materials/Media:
Ink and colours on paper
Source:
Dumfries Museum & Camera Obscura
Accession number:
1968.5.7, C346, 14J
Creation Date:
1891