Japanese Illustrated Books from the Edo and Meiji Periods

detail of a Japanese color print showing a small frog leaping into the water, with lilies and reeds

The Freer|Sackler Library's collection of illustrated Japanese rare books includes over 1,000 volumes previously owned by Charles Lang Freer. Often filled with color illustrations, many are by famous artists such as Andō Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai.  These beautiful woodblock printed works of art were published during the Edo and Meiji periods (1600-1912).  Another group of Japanese rare books more recently added to the Library's collections consists of 67 volumes of illustrated Meiji-period books collected by Robert O. Muller who also formed a superb collection of Japanese prints from the same period which he bequeathed to the Arthur M.Sackler Gallery. Both library book collections are ideal complements to the world renowned Gerhard Pulverer Collection of Illustrated Japanese Books which was acquired by the Freer Gallery of Art in 2007. The Pulverer Collection has been completely digitized and is available online. Unlike the European and American books on our website, Japanese rare books are scanned as two-page spreads to more clearly show the construction of the book and seamlessly display images which span two pages.

You may notice some pages and covers which seem to have white or light-colored decorative patterns behind the text. This is mica that has been applied to the paper. When holding the book, the mica will sparkle and be less and more noticeable depending on how the book is positioned relative to a light source. In person it would not appear to be uniformly light as shown in the digital images.
View plain title list.

The Library’s digitization project was generously funded by the Anne van Biema Endowment Fund.

Pages

Cover of Bairei gafu

Bairei gafu

楳嶺畫譜
Yamada Unsōdō
Meiji 38 [1905]
Cover of Bairei gafu v. 1

Bairei gafu v. 1

楳嶺畫譜
Kōno, Bairei
Yamada Unsōdō
Meiji 38 [1905]
Cover of Bairei gafu v. 2

Bairei gafu v. 2

楳嶺畫譜
Kōno, Bairei
Yamada Unsōdō
Meiji 38 [1905]
Cover of Bairei gafu v. 3

Bairei gafu v. 3

楳嶺畫譜
Kōno, Bairei
Yamada Unsōdō
Meiji 38 [1905]
Cover of Bairei hyakuchol, gafu

Bairei hyakuchō gafu

楳嶺百鳥畫譜
Ōkura Magobē
Meiji 14 [1881]
Cover of Bairei hyakuchol, gafu

Bairei hyakuchō gafu

楳嶺百鳥畫譜
Ōkura Magobē
Meiji 14 [1881]
Cover of Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 1

Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 1

楳嶺百鳥畫譜
Kōno, Bairei
Ōkura Magobē
Meiji 14 [1881]
Cover of Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 1

Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 1

楳嶺百鳥畫譜
Kōno, Bairei
Ōkura Magobē
Meiji 14 [1881]
Cover of Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 2

Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 2

楳嶺百鳥畫譜
Kōno, Bairei
Ōkura Magobē
Meiji 14 [1881]
Cover of Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 2

Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 2

楳嶺百鳥畫譜
Kōno, Bairei
Ōkura Magobē
Meiji 14 [1881]
Cover of Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 3

Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 3

楳嶺百鳥畫譜
Kōno, Bairei
Ōkura Magobē
Meiji 14 [1881]
Cover of Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 3

Bairei hyakuchō gafu v. 3

楳嶺百鳥畫譜
Kōno, Bairei
Ōkura Magobē
Meiji 14 [1881]
Cover of Banshoku zukō

Banshoku zukō

萬職圖考
Katsushika, Taito
Kawachiya Mohē
[Kaei 3 [1850]]
Cover of Banshō shashin zufu

Banshō shashin zufu

萬象寫眞圖譜
Utagawa, Sadahide
Sonoharaya Shōsuke
Bunkyū 4 [1864]
Cover of Banshol, zukan

Banshō zukan

萬象圖鑑
Kobayashi Bunshichi
Meiji 34 [1901]
Cover of Banshō zukan v. 1

Banshō zukan v. 1

萬象圖鑑
Kobayashi, Bunshichi
Kobayashi Bunshichi
Meiji 34 [1901]
Cover of Banshō zukan v. 2

Banshō zukan v. 2

萬象圖鑑
Kobayashi, Bunshichi
Kobayashi Bunshichi
Meiji 34 [1901]
Cover of Bijutsukai

Bijutsukai

美術海
Tokuyaku urisabakijo Tanaka Bunkyūdō ... [and 9 others]
Cover of Bijutsukai v. 37 (Mar. 1899)

Bijutsukai v. 37 (Mar. 1899)

美術海
Yamada, Naosaburō
Tokuyaku urisabakijo Tanaka Bunkyūdō ... [and 9 others]
Cover of Bijutsukai v. 55 (Oct. 1900)

Bijutsukai v. 55 (Oct. 1900)

美術海
Yamada, Naosaburō
Tokuyaku urisabakijo Tanaka Bunkyūdō ... [and 9 others]
Cover of Bonsai kabenzu

Bonsai kabenzu

盆栽花弁圖
[Meiji period, 1868-1912?]
Cover of Bundai gachō

Bundai gachō

文臺雅調
Andō, Hiroshige
s.n
1844]
Cover of Bungei gairyaku

Bungei gairyaku

文藝概畧 : 紀元二千五百三十六年著
Sakakibara, Yoshino
Cover of Bunpō gafu

Bunpō gafu

文鳳畵譜 : 全
Kawamura, Bunpō
Yoshidaya Shinbē
Bunka 4 [1807]
Cover of Bunpol, gafu

Bunpō gafu

文鳳畵譜
Yoshidaya Shinbē
Bunka 10 [1813]
Cover of Bunpō gafu v. 2

Bunpō gafu v. 2

文鳳畵譜
Kawamura, Bunpō; Yoshidaya, Shinbē
Yoshidaya Shinbē
Bunka 10 [1813]
Cover of Bunpō gafu v. 3

Bunpō gafu v. 3

文鳳畵譜
Kawamura, Bunpō; Yoshidaya, Shinbē
Yoshidaya Shinbē
Bunka 10 [1813]
Cover of Bunpō sansui ikō

Bunpō sansui ikō

文鳳山水遺稿
Kawamura, Bunpō; Rai, San'yō; Kawamura, Kihō
Bunchōdō Yoshida Shinbē zōhan
Bunsei 7 [1824]
Cover of Cha kafuki no shiki , Kuchikiri no shiki , Rikyu Koji himei

Cha kafuki no shiki ; Kuchikiri no shiki ; Rikyu Koji himei

茶カフキ之式 ; 口切之式 ; 利休居士碑銘
Cover of Cha kafuki no shiki ; Kuchikiri no shiki ; Rikyu Koji himei v. 1

Cha kafuki no shiki ; Kuchikiri no shiki ; Rikyu Koji himei v. 1

茶カフキ之式 ; 口切之式 ; 利休居士碑銘
Cover of Cha kafuki no shiki ; Kuchikiri no shiki ; Rikyu Koji himei v. 2

Cha kafuki no shiki ; Kuchikiri no shiki ; Rikyu Koji himei v. 2

茶カフキ之式 ; 口切之式 ; 利休居士碑銘
Cover of Cha kafuki no shiki ; Kuchikiri no shiki ; Rikyu Koji himei v. 3

Cha kafuki no shiki ; Kuchikiri no shiki ; Rikyu Koji himei v. 3

茶カフキ之式 ; 口切之式 ; 利休居士碑銘
Cover of Cha kafuki no shiki ; Kuchikiri no shiki ; Rikyu Koji himei v. 4

Cha kafuki no shiki ; Kuchikiri no shiki ; Rikyu Koji himei v. 4

茶カフキ之式 ; 口切之式 ; 利休居士碑銘
Cover of Chadō keizu

Chadō keizu

茶道系圖 : 完
Cover of Chadol, sentei

Chadō sentei

茶道筌蹄
Suharaya Ihachi
Kōka [1847]
Cover of Chadō sentei v. 1

Chadō sentei v. 1

茶道筌蹄
Inagaki, Kyūsō
Suharaya Ihachi
Kōka [1847]
Cover of Chadō sentei v. 2

Chadō sentei v. 2

茶道筌蹄
Inagaki, Kyūsō
Suharaya Ihachi
Kōka [1847]
Cover of Chadō sentei v. 3

Chadō sentei v. 3

茶道筌蹄
Inagaki, Kyūsō
Suharaya Ihachi
Kōka [1847]
Cover of Chadō sentei v. 4

Chadō sentei v. 4

茶道筌蹄
Inagaki, Kyūsō
Suharaya Ihachi
Kōka [1847]
Cover of Chadō sentei v. 5

Chadō sentei v. 5

茶道筌蹄
Inagaki, Kyūsō
Suharaya Ihachi
Kōka [1847]
Cover of Chakata meikiruishul,

Chakata meikiruishū

茶方銘器類聚
Cover of Chakata meikiruishū v. 1

Chakata meikiruishū v. 1

茶方銘器類聚
Cover of Chakata meikiruishū v. 2

Chakata meikiruishū v. 2

茶方銘器類聚
Cover of Chake suikozatsu

Chake suikozatsu

茶家醉古襍
Ōmiya Satarō
Tenpō 14 [1843]-Kaei 1 [1848]
Cover of Chake suikozatsu v. 1

Chake suikozatsu v. 1

茶家醉古襍
Kogetsu
Ōmiya Satarō
Tenpō 14 [1843]-Kaei 1 [1848]
Cover of Chake suikozatsu v. 2

Chake suikozatsu v. 2

茶家醉古襍
Kogetsu
Ōmiya Satarō
Tenpō 14 [1843]-Kaei 1 [1848]
Cover of Chake suikozatsu v. 3

Chake suikozatsu v. 3

茶家醉古襍
Kogetsu
Ōmiya Satarō
Tenpō 14 [1843]-Kaei 1 [1848]
Cover of Chake suikozatsu v. 4

Chake suikozatsu v. 4

茶家醉古襍
Kogetsu
Ōmiya Satarō
Tenpō 14 [1843]-Kaei 1 [1848]
Cover of Chake suikozatsu v. 5

Chake suikozatsu v. 5

茶家醉古襍
Kogetsu
Ōmiya Satarō
Tenpō 14 [1843]-Kaei 1 [1848]
Cover of Chaki bengyokushul,

Chaki bengyokushū

茶器辨玉集
Cover of Chaki bengyokushū v. 1

Chaki bengyokushū v. 1

茶器辨玉集
Cover of Chaki bengyokushū v. 3

Chaki bengyokushū v. 3

茶器辨玉集
Cover of Chaki meibutsuroku

Chaki meibutsuroku

茶器名物録
Cover of Chaki meibutsushul,

Chaki meibutsushū

茶器名物集
Cover of Chaki meibutsushū v. 1

Chaki meibutsushū v. 1

茶器名物集
Cover of Chaki meibutsushū v. 2

Chaki meibutsushū v. 2

茶器名物集
Cover of Chaki meikeihen

Chaki meikeihen

茶器名形編
Cover of Chaki meikeihen

Chaki meikeihen

茶器名形編
Cover of Chaki meikeihen

Chaki meikeihen

茶器名形編
Cover of Chaki meikeihen v. 1

Chaki meikeihen v. 1

茶器名形編
Tominaga, Nangai
Cover of Chaki meikeihen v. 1

Chaki meikeihen v. 1

茶器名形編
Tominaga, Nangai
Cover of Chaki meikeihen v. 1

Chaki meikeihen v. 1

茶器名形編
Tominaga, Nangai
Cover of Chaki meikeihen v. 2

Chaki meikeihen v. 2

茶器名形編
Tominaga, Nangai
Cover of Chaki meikeihen v. 2

Chaki meikeihen v. 2

茶器名形編
Tominaga, Nangai
Cover of Chaki meikeihen v. 2

Chaki meikeihen v. 2

茶器名形編
Tominaga, Nangai
Cover of Chanoyu hitorikogi

Chanoyu hitorikogi

茶湯獨漕
Izumiya Jirōemon
Hōei 1 [1704]
Cover of Chanoyu hitorikogi v. 1

Chanoyu hitorikogi v. 1

茶湯獨漕
Inoue, Shinshichi
Izumiya Jirōemon
Hōei 1 [1704]
Cover of Chanoyu hitorikogi v. 2

Chanoyu hitorikogi v. 2

茶湯獨漕
Inoue, Shinshichi
Izumiya Jirōemon
Hōei 1 [1704]
Cover of Chanoyu hitorikogi v. 3

Chanoyu hitorikogi v. 3

茶湯獨漕
Inoue, Shinshichi
Izumiya Jirōemon
Hōei 1 [1704]
Cover of Chanoyu hitorikogi v. 4

Chanoyu hitorikogi v. 4

茶湯獨漕
Inoue, Shinshichi
Izumiya Jirōemon
Hōei 1 [1704]
Cover of Chanoyu hitorikogi v. 5

Chanoyu hitorikogi v. 5

茶湯獨漕
Inoue, Shinshichi
Izumiya Jirōemon
Hōei 1 [1704]
Cover of Chanoyu hyol,rin

Chanoyu hyōrin

茶湯評林
Izumiya Yamaguchi Mohē
Genroku 10 [1697]
Cover of Chanoyu hyōrin v. 1

Chanoyu hyōrin v. 1

茶湯評林
Endō, Genkan
Izumiya Yamaguchi Mohē
Genroku 10 [1697]
Cover of Chanoyu hyōrin v. 2

Chanoyu hyōrin v. 2

茶湯評林
Endō, Genkan
Izumiya Yamaguchi Mohē
Genroku 10 [1697]
Cover of Chanoyu hyōrin v. 3

Chanoyu hyōrin v. 3

茶湯評林
Endō, Genkan
Izumiya Yamaguchi Mohē
Genroku 10 [1697]
Cover of Chanoyu hyōrin v. 4

Chanoyu hyōrin v. 4

茶湯評林
Endō, Genkan
Izumiya Yamaguchi Mohē
Genroku 10 [1697]
Cover of Chanoyu hyōrin v. 5

Chanoyu hyōrin v. 5

茶湯評林
Endō, Genkan
Izumiya Yamaguchi Mohē
Genroku 10 [1697]
Cover of Chanoyu hyōrin v. 6

Chanoyu hyōrin v. 6

茶湯評林
Endō, Genkan
Izumiya Yamaguchi Mohē
Genroku 10 [1697]
Cover of Chanoyu hyōrin v. 7

Chanoyu hyōrin v. 7

茶湯評林
Endō, Genkan
Izumiya Yamaguchi Mohē
Genroku 10 [1697]
Cover of Chanoyu hyōrin v. 8

Chanoyu hyōrin v. 8

茶湯評林
Endō, Genkan
Izumiya Yamaguchi Mohē
Genroku 10 [1697]
Cover of Chanoyu hyōrin v. 9

Chanoyu hyōrin v. 9

茶湯評林
Endō, Genkan
Izumiya Yamaguchi Mohē
Genroku 10 [1697]
Cover of Chanoyu kokon wakumon

Chanoyu kokon wakumon

茶之湯古今或問
Izumiya Mohē
Genroku 5 [1692]
Cover of Chanoyu kokon wakumon v. 1

Chanoyu kokon wakumon v. 1

茶之湯古今或問
Endō, Genkan
Izumiya Mohē
Genroku 5 [1692]
Cover of Chanoyu kokon wakumon v. 2

Chanoyu kokon wakumon v. 2

茶之湯古今或問
Endō, Genkan
Izumiya Mohē
Genroku 5 [1692]
Cover of Chanoyu kol,moku

Chanoyu kōmoku

茶之湯綱目
Kikuya Shichirōbē
[after Hōei 6 [1709]]
Cover of Chanoyu kōmoku v. 1

Chanoyu kōmoku v. 1

茶之湯綱目
Endō, Genkan
Kikuya Shichirōbē
[after Hōei 6 [1709]]
Cover of Chanoyu kōmoku v. 2

Chanoyu kōmoku v. 2

茶之湯綱目
Endō, Genkan
Kikuya Shichirōbē
[after Hōei 6 [1709]]
Cover of Chanoyu kōmoku v. 3

Chanoyu kōmoku v. 3

茶之湯綱目
Endō, Genkan
Kikuya Shichirōbē
[after Hōei 6 [1709]]
Cover of Chanoyu kōmoku v. 4

Chanoyu kōmoku v. 4

茶之湯綱目
Endō, Genkan
Kikuya Shichirōbē
[after Hōei 6 [1709]]
Cover of Chanoyu kōmoku v. 5

Chanoyu kōmoku v. 5

茶之湯綱目
Endō, Genkan
Kikuya Shichirōbē
[after Hōei 6 [1709]]
Cover of Chanoyu sandenshul,

Chanoyu sandenshū

茶之湯三傳集
Cover of Chanoyu sandenshū v. 1

Chanoyu sandenshū v. 1

茶之湯三傳集
Endō, Genkan
Cover of Chanoyu sandenshū v. 2

Chanoyu sandenshū v. 2

茶之湯三傳集
Endō, Genkan
Cover of Chanoyu sandenshū v. 3

Chanoyu sandenshū v. 3

茶之湯三傳集
Endō, Genkan
Cover of Chanoyu sandenshū v. 4

Chanoyu sandenshū v. 4

茶之湯三傳集
Endō, Genkan
Cover of Chanoyu shin no daisu

Chanoyu shin no daisu

茶之湯真壹子
Ogawa Genbē
Enkyō 1 [1744]
Cover of Chanoyu shin no daisu v. 1

Chanoyu shin no daisu v. 1

茶之湯真壹子
Endō, Genkan
Ogawa Genbē
Enkyō 1 [1744]
Cover of Chanoyu shin no daisu v. 2

Chanoyu shin no daisu v. 2

茶之湯真壹子
Endō, Genkan
Ogawa Genbē
Enkyō 1 [1744]
Cover of Chanoyu shin no daisu v. 3

Chanoyu shin no daisu v. 3

茶之湯真壹子
Endō, Genkan
Ogawa Genbē
Enkyō 1 [1744]
Cover of Chanoyu shin no daisu v. 4

Chanoyu shin no daisu v. 4

茶之湯真壹子
Endō, Genkan
Ogawa Genbē
Enkyō 1 [1744]

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