As part of celebrations commemorating the 400th Anniversary of Anglo-Japanese Relations, Tenri University of Japan and the School of Oriental and African Studies in the UK are presenting a special exhibition of rare and carefully selected Japanese books spanning a period of over a thousand years of history, giving us a wide view of the development of printing in Japan.
In spite of our modern technology-driven world with smartphones, tablets and eReaders now being commonplace, many people still have a desire to read and hold good old fashioned paper books over digital tablets- but it remains to be seen if younger generations will retain this nostalgic affection for pulp. Either way, it seems that print book readership will inevitably decline. But what better way to remember and celebrate humanity’s literary and cultural heritage than by visiting an exhibit such as this one – a rare display of 41 items from the Tenri Library in Japan, which holds one of the largest and most important collections of the written word in all of Asia.
Your attention should be directed to a few especially important items of interest. One of these is a Buddhist sutra scroll that is “the world’s oldest printed document whose date of production can be clearly established”, according to the exhibition catalogue’s description. It was printed using woodblocks in the 8th century AD. Another first here is a chapter from a copy of the world’s oldest novel, The Tale of Genji, a story that remains popular to this day. We are also fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of one of the first books printed by Christian missionaries in Japan. Moving on to the modern period, fans of acclaimed author Natsume Soseki will be happy to see early editions of his first novel, I Am a Cat.
Although it may not be a very large exhibition, it is certainly one of the most comprehensive and important to appear anywhere in recent years
If you are more visually inclined, there is still plenty to see here. Paintings accompanied by handwritten poems in flowing calligraphy and illustrated books liven things up, with everything from the natural world to Japan’s traditional paranormal stories, as well as dramatic landscapes on display. Also look out for a beautiful hand-coloured astrological map.
Although it may not be a very large exhibition, it is certainly one of the most comprehensive and important to appear anywhere in recent years and comes highly recommended to anyone who has even a passing interest in the subject. If you would like more info about this exhibit and Japanese books in general, it is suggested that you attend ‘Text and Image in Japanese Books’, a free two-day workshop on May 8 & 9 at SOAS. For more details about this and other events related to the exhibition, including a special tea ceremony, please follow the link to the gallery website below.
By Tim Holm
Exhibition info:
1000 Years of the Art of Japanese Books: Treasures from the Tenri Central Library
Brunei Gallery, SOAS, University of London
April 18 – June 22, 2013
Free entrance, open to the public
