Two unusually long woodblocks (each 208 x 825 mm.), each carved on both sides.
Kyoto: Zeniya Sōshirō 銭屋総四郎, 1829.
Woodblocks are invaluable historical artifacts in East Asian history, serving as key instruments in the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. The printing process involves brushing ink onto the carved surface, pressing a sheet of paper onto it, and rubbing it with a printing pad or brush to transfer the inked negative impression.
These two very long woodblocks — attractively mixing kanji and katakana — are from the two-volume 1829 edition of Tsūzoku gendan shū 通俗玄談集 [Popular Explanations of Zen Buddhism] by the Sōtō Zen practitioner Sōshū Mangen 曹州卍源. Our blocks are from the second volume, leaves 13-16 and 17-20. It is most unusual to have consecutive woodblocks.
In fine condition.
Price: $3,500.00
Item ID: 11594
