Sangoku tsūran zusetsu 三國通覧圖說

Hayashi Shihei 林子平 (1738-1793)

Forward by Katsuragawa Hoshū 桂川甫周 (1754-1809) and preface by Hayashi Shihei

32 pages of color images Size: 6 7/16 x 9 7/16 in.

Translation of title: Illustrated survey of three countries

Sangoku tsūran zusetsu is an ethnographical and geographical study of Korea, the kingdom of Ryūkyū, Ezo (Hokkaidō), and the Ogasawara Islands. This 112 page manuscript depicts the people of the above areas, including their costumes, housing and the necessary implements for their sustenance, such as hunting devices. Hayashi Shihei, a samurai from the Mutsu domain, studied foreign affairs in the city of Nagasaki, the gateway for imported goods as well as foreign news and knowledge brought by Dutch and Chinese merchants. He became aware of the threat of Russia’s southward advancement and advocated for the importance of maritime security. Shihei hoped to increase awareness and to promote the knowledge of maritime security through the publication of Sangoku tsūran zusetsu, although the Shogun’s government banned the book in 1791. Like many other banned books related to such topics, including another work by Hayashi, Kaikoku heidan (discussion on maritime nations), Sangoku tsūran was often hand-copied, and circulated among people who shared his concerns regarding the future of Japan. Researcher: Momoko Welch Other: Kyushu University Museum (http://record.museum.kyushu-, opens in a new window u.ac.jp/sangokutu/page.html?style=a&part=1&no=1), opens in a new window and Waseda University Library (http://www.wul.waseda.ac.jp/kotenseki/html/r, opens in a new window u03/ru03_01547/index.html), opens in a new window has copies in black-and-white