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LIST 210 — New & Recent
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WANST9 Wang Qi and Wang Siyi comp; Huang Sheng revised: SANCAI TUHUI: QI YONG JUAN 1-12. (Assembled Illustrations of the Three Realms: Tools and Implements: Parts 1-12). 三才圖會: 器用 卷 1-12。王圻 王思義 編輯。雲間充明父王思義續集。潭濱黃晟東曙氏重校. N.p. (Huizhou?), n.d.(early Qianlong reign). Various paginations. A total of 708 b/w woodcut illustrations (the majority full page) as follows: Juan 1: 53; Juan 2: 83; Juan 3: 51; Juan 4: 59; Juan 5: 59; Juan 6: 58; Juan 7: 45; Juan 8: 56; Juan 9: 51; Juan 10: 58; Juan 11: 69; Juan 12: 66. 6 vols. 25x16 cm. Stitched. GBP 6,000.00 The famous and rare encyclopaedia work, Sancai Tuhui, was compiled during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty by Wang Qi with assistance from his son, Wang Siyi. The three realms are Heaven, Earth and Humanity. It was completed in 1607 and published two years later in 1609 (Wanli 37). There were two Wanli versions, the first printed in 1609 and then a slightly later revised edition also viewed as being printed in 1609. It was divided into 14 sections. This section is presumably from the slightly later edition as it mentions the son, Wang Siyi, and 'xuji' (supplement). The title page of each juan also mentions revisions (chongjiao) by one Huang Sheng. Huang Sheng was active in the late Kangxi and early Qianlong reigns of the Qing dynasty. He came from Huizhou in Anhui province and was a member of a later generation of the well-known Huang family of woodcut artists and printers active in the late Ming and on through the first half of the Qing dynasty. Huang Sheng was a wealthy salt merchant and bibliophile interested in traditional culture and thus (presumably assisted by his family connections and access) commissioned revised editions of a number of Ming illustrated works, including, as here, the Sancai Tuhui. The revisions seem confined to the list of contents as the main body of the work near exactly matches the original Ming edition. This qiyong section is complete in 12 juan in six physical volumes. This section comprises images of, and text describing, ancient bronze vessels and other types of ancient object, musical instruments, moving objects (boats, banners, items for dancing etc.), chariots and their accoutrements, ships, boats and other floating vessels and water activities, military items and weaponry, sericulture, agricultural implements plus various other objects. A huge variety. Some of the illustrations are definitely derived (in some cases closely copied) from earlier Ming illustrated works, not least, Wang Zhen's important work, Nong Shu (Book of Agriculture) completed in 1313. This work pictured and described a large number of agricultural tools and implements and crucial rural enterprises such as the silk industry. The illustrations of sericulture in these volumes (juan 9) are remarkably similar to those in the Nong Shu. The Nong Shu was considered so important that it was incorporated into the famous Yongle Dadian (Yongle Encyclopedia). The illustrations here thus offer a glimpse into this largely-destroyed cultural icon. All six fascicles have black-and-white woodblock illustrations throughout, many beautifully executed and which thus attest to the skill and achievement of woodblock printing in the late Ming dynasty. There are a total of 708 black-and-white woodcut illustrations (the majority full page), which is extraordinary in itself but even more extraordinary when one considers that this is but one small part of the work. A massive undertaking! The woodblocks themselves all exhibit wear to the blocks near identical to copies of the 1609 Sancai Tuhui held in major libraries. The text part of the fascicles also conform to the accepted format of the work; 9 columns with a maximum of 22 characters per column and surrounded by paper margins on all sides. Later covers and stitching. All text in Chinese. Thus we view this as being an early Qianlong edition (1740-1750) using the original Ming woodblocks. Condition wise, these volumes are generally in good condition. There is minor worming to a couple of volumes but most are clean. The occasional bit of soiling, slight loss or tear and the occasional repair. Good ink impression to the images. Given their age, remarkably satisfactory. The covers each have an ink inscription in copperplate writing in English giving (somewhat erroneously) the overall content of each volume. These inscriptions have a distinct 19th century feel to them. Very rare and near impossible to obtain even a single volume of an early edition of this work outside China. Even in China, a true rarity. References: Zhongguo Guji Shanben Zongmu p.1071 for listing of the two Wanli versions. Dictionary of Ming Biography pp. 1355-1356 (Wang Qi) Science and Civilisation on China Vol. 5 Part I pp. 266-269 Zhongguo Shanben Shu Tiya p. 380. Huang Sheng: https://www.zgbk.com/ecph/words?SiteID=1&ID=601718&Type=bkztb&SubID=1009 Subjects: Illustrated Books Rare Books Item 85 in List 209. URL for this record: hanshan.com/?w/WANST9.HTM Record produced by Hanshan Tang Books, www.hanshan.com. |