The popularisation of 'knowledge' in 17th- and 18th-century Kyoto: Focus on illustrated encyclopaedias

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K00308
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 02010:Japanese literature-related
• Research Institution: International Research Center for Japanese Studies
• Principal Investigator: Ishigami Aki 国際日本文化研究センター, 研究部, 特任助教 (20516819)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 出版史 / デジタルアーカイブ / データベース / 京都 / 西川祐信 / 絵入百科事典 / 雛形本 / 視覚文化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study clarified the popularisation of 'knowledge' achieved by the 'illustrated encyclopaedia' style books published in Kyoto in the 17th and 18th centuries. First, I examined the background and sources of publication of the first illustrated encyclopaedia in Japan, the Kinmo-zui, and its continuing influence up to the modern era. Secondly, our study grope reprinted and annotated the Shotoku hiinagata, a book of kosode hinagata that classified designs according to the attributes of figures, and specifically examined the colours, dyeing techniques and designs in Kyoto. We also clarified the cultural background, including the relationship between clothing and literature, publishing culture and customs. Thirdly, we reprinted, translated into English and created metadata for illustrated encyclopaedias on figures, Buddhist statues, women's customs, armour and architecture, and made them available as the "Database of Early Modern Illustrated Encyclopaedias".

Free Research Field

日本近世文化史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、絵と言葉を備えた「絵入百科事典」的書物が、教養や情報を把握し、固定化するために重要な役割を果たしたものと捉え、これらの書物がどのように江戸の「知」を支える裾野を拡げていったのか、人物図、着物、享受、異国との文化交流などの視点から考察を行った。また、これらの書物の多くが未翻刻の状況であることから、資料の翻刻作業を進め、同時にそれをデータベースとして発信した。古典籍・浮世絵のオープンデータ化が急速に進む現在において、書物という形式をデータベースに代えて、近世期の絵入百科事典を現代の読者につなげることを試みた。