Illustrated handscroll on paper with seven finely colored cartographic images depicting overhead views of seven large & two smaller islands of the Tokara archipelago, part of the larger Ryukyu archipelago.
Scroll (395 x 3955 mm.), seven joined sheets, all finely mounted on strong paper, inner wooden core roller. [Japan]: early Meiji.
The Tokara archipelago is a group of 12 small islands (seven are permanently inhabited today) south of Kyūshū. They were originally jointly controlled by the Shimazu clan of Satsuma fiefdom and the Ryukyu kingdom, but in 1611, Ryukyu ceded its territory to Satsuma. The islands played an important role in the north-south maritime routes that ran from south China through Okinawa to Kyūshū.
At the time this cartographic scroll was made, there were nine inhabited islands, all depicted here: Nakanoshima 中之島; Akusekijima 悪石島; Takarajima 宝島 and Kodakarajima 小宝島 (on one image); Kuchinoshima 口之島; Tairajima 平島; Suwanosejima 諏訪之瀬島; and Gajajima 掛蛇島 and Kogajajima 小掛蛇島 (on one image). Three further, uninhabited islands are not illustrated here.
Each map depicts the geography (including volcanoes, hot springs, wetlands, streams, and ponds), vegetation and crop fields, landing sites, mines, paths, and villages, with place names in red. Distances to neighboring islands are given.
A few careful repairs to the sheets, but in fine and fresh condition. Preserved in a wooden box.
Price: $7,500.00
Item ID: 11437
