Woodblock Printed Books from the Qing Court in the Nagasaki Trade: A Case Study of Hakusai shomoku (List of Books Brought as Cargo)

Abstract

The Japanese scholar Ōba Osamu is a pioneer in the data collection and research of books brought to Japan by Chinese vessels in ancient times. Since 1963, he has studied the importation of Chinese books in the Edo Period and compiled a lot of relevant materials. His research leads to a series of unique and valuable research outputs and lays a solid foundation for future researchers in this field. The books that he compiles– Edo jidai ni okeru Tōsen Mochiwatarisho no kenkyū (Studies of the Books Transported [to Japan] aboard Chinese Vessels in the Edo Period) and Hakusai shomoku: tsuketari kaidai Kunaichō Shoryōbu-zō (List of Books Brought as Cargo Held in the Archives and Mausolea Department of the Imperial Household Agency) are both excellent casebooks. However, woodblock printed books from the Qing court have drawn nobody’s attention except Ōba Osamu, who has discussed Da qing hui dian (Collected Statutes of the Great Qing Dynasty) and Gu jin tu shu ji cheng (the Imperial Encyclopedia) in his book Edo jidai ni okeru Chūgoku bunka juyō no kenkyū (Studies of the Reception of Chinese Culture in the Edo Period). Therefore, more in-depth studies on woodblock printed books from the Qing court are in need.