A Western medicine-inspired gōkan illustrated by Eisen

A Western medicine-inspired gōkan illustrated by Eisen

Okoma ga Chū mon Shirokiya Shiire Onna-obi Ito-ori Hachijō ["A Woman's Obi Woven from Hachijō Silk, Ordered by Okoma and Procured by Shirokiya"] Tōzaian, Nanboku [text by]; Keisai, Eisen [illustrations by]. Tōto [Edo]: Kansendō Izumiya Ichibē , [preface dated Bunsei 7 (1824)]. A gōkan by two powerhouses of Edo literature and illustration—Tōzaian Nanboku and Keisai Eisen—starring the characters Onoe, Idahachi, Okoma, Saiza, and the Dutch medicine doctor Dokuan. The influence of Western medicine and art is evident in several scenes. For example, one

illustration features an anatomical model of a Western woman being used as an advertisement in a medicine shop. The random Western characters in the illustration mimic Dutch script. The Latin alphabet and Dutch medicine grew in popularity as artistic and literary themes in Japanese fiction following the 1774 publication of Sugita Genpaku's Kaitai Shinsho, a groundbreaking Japanese translation of Ontleedkundige Tafelen (1734). Six parts in two four-hole-bound (yotsumetoji) volumes, complete, on double leaves, traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Original wrappers heavily worn and soiled, with tears, inscriptions to lower wrappers and title of first volume. Thumbing, occasional small holes and ink stains to leaves. Some fukurotoji split. 30 leaves (continuously paginated). 18 x 12 cm.