Hanshan Tang Books

TOKCB1
Tokiwa Taijo & Sekino Tadashi: CHUGOKU BUNKA SHISEKI. (Cultural Monuments in China). 中国文化史蹟。關野貞常盤大定著 . Kyoto, 1975-76. 13 vols. b/w plates comprising a total of 1493 pp. b/w plates showing 2612 b/w photographs. Each volume has a list of plates. (Vol. 13 also has 78 pp. text with b/w text illustrations and plans.). Accompanied by 2 smaller text volumes (23x17 cm): Vol. 1: 18 pp. b/w plates (2 folding) and 889 pp. text; Vol. 2: 14 pp. b/w plates (2 folding) and 820 pp. text. 15 vols. 38x27 cm. Cloth.
GBP 9,000.00
Rare reprint of a large and highly-important work on Chinese historical remains, cultural monuments and relics, including sculpture, architecture etc. The photographs were taken at various times in China from the mid 1920s through to the mid 1930s on expeditions led by Professor Sekino Tadashi and his assistant, Tokiwa Taijo. Includes thousands of interesting photographs of monuments and relics in their original and unrepaired state. Many of the monuments and relics are no longer extant. Many of those that survive have been greatly altered through unsophisticated restoration and renovation. Of great relevance for the study and research of Chinese art history.
The quality of the black-and-white plates is good and images are the same size as in the original. Comprises 13 volumes of plates (size 38x27 cm) and 2 smaller text volumes (size 23x17 cm). Reprint (and enlarged edition - see below) of the highly sought-after, but impossible to find, 1939-41 original work 'Shina Bunka Shiseki'. Text in Japanese.
The content of the volumes is focused on monuments and relics in Chinese provinces as follows:
Vol. 1: Shanxi; 2: Henan; 3. Guangdong and Hunan; 4. Jiangsu and Zhejiang; 5. Henan and Hebei; 6. Zhejiang and Fujian; 7. Shandong; 8. Shanxi and Hebei; 9. Shaanxi; 10. Sichuan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui and Jiangsu; 11. Shandong; 12. Hebei; 13. (Supplement) The North East (includes sites and monuments in N. E. China, Inner Mongolia and Manchuria and includes photographs and text on Chengde). Vols. 14 and 15: Explanatory text.
The original work 'Shina Bunka Shiseki' was published in parts between 1939 and 1941 with a total of 12 volumes of plates. In 1943, the authors began work on an additional 13th volume covering the Northeast of China (Manchuria and Mongolia). Due to WW2 bombing raids on Japan, work on this volume was halted. Apparently much of the original edition was destroyed during such raids which explains the extreme rarity of the original work. In 1972 work began on a limited edition reprint of Shina Bunka Shiseki in near original format under the title (as published here) of 'Chugoku Bunka Shiseki' and the material for the supplementary 13th volume was included. In addition, two smaller text volumes of explanatory text were published with the reprint. These contain the texts of the small paperback volumes that accompanied each volume of the original work plus the text to accompany the additional 13th volume. Thus the work here, in addition to being a faithful reprint, also expands upon the original. This reprint itself extremely hard to find. Text in Japanese.
We have done a basic English translation to the lists of contents of each volume. This is enclosed with each volume.
Subjects: Buddhist Art Architecture
Item 353 in List 205.
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