The Art of the Book in Edo & Meiji Japan, 1615–1912

Course Description

The illustrated woodblock printed books produced in Japan in the Edo and Meiji periods represent a remarkable achievement in terms of their technical perfection, broad range of styles and subject matter, and their beauty. No comparable sustained tradition of artistically significant printed illustrated books existed in China or the West. The course will combine daily lectures and discussions with hands-on sessions in which students will have the opportunity to examine outstanding examples of some of the most significant books produced in Edo and Meiji Japan. Topics to be covered include: key features of the history of the period; the physical characteristics of Japanese books; the origins and evolution of the main categories of artistically significant illustrated books; the impact of imported Chinese and Western books; the achievements of artists of the Ukiyo-e, Nanga, Kanô, Tosa, Rimpa and Maruyama-Shijô schools; continuity and change in art book production in the Meiji period; Meiji facsimiles of Edo-period books; and collecting and appreciating Japanese illustrated books in Europe and America. In their personal statement, students should describe any previous background they have had in the field; however, no previous knowledge of Japanese art or history is required for admission to this course. This course is designed to complement RBS course I-85: Japanese Illustrated Books, 1615–1858; the two courses may be taken in either order. The course will be conducted in Cambridge, MA at the Harvard Art Museums and Harvard-Yenching Library.

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Advance Reading List

Required Readings

Please read the following books, which provide background for the topics that we will explore in class.

Guth, Christine. Art of Edo Japan: The Artist and the City, 1615–1868. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1996 or New Haven: Yale University Press, 2010. This book provides an accessible overview of all the arts of the Edo period.

Keyes, Roger. Ehon: The Artist and the Book in Japan. New York: New York Public Library, 2006. This beautifully produced book is the best single-volume introduction to Japanese illustrated books available today.

Suggested Readings

Meech, Julia and Jane Oliver, eds. Designed for Pleasure: The World of Edo Japan in prints and paintings, 1680–1860. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2008. While none of the articles in this book deal exclusively or even extensively with books, they provide essential background for our better understanding of the world that produced illustrated books.

Suzuki Jun and Ellis Tinios. Understanding Japanese Woodblock-Printed Illustrated Books: A Short Introduction to their History, Bibliography and Format. Leiden & Boston: Brill, 2013. This compact, pricey book does what the title says. It is richly illustrated and produced to a high standard.

If possible, also consult the following, which has long been out of print:

Hillier, Jack. The Art of the Japanese Book. London: Sotheby’s Publications, 1987. Two volumes. The most comprehensive and important study of Japanese illustrated books in any language; a landmark in the field.

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Course Evaluations

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Course History