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The National Gallery in Prague has in its collection a unique Japanese illustrated manuscript of ógi no sóshi, a genre of waka poems illustrated in fan-shaped pictures, which blossomed from the late Muromachi to the early Edo period. The Prague Book of Fans, with 120 poems, is the largest such book extant in the world.
           
This facsimile of an ancient illustrated manuscript of waka poetry reveals hitherto unknown aspects of Japanese traditional culture at the close of the sixteenth century, after the end of a century of destructive civil wars. The illustrated fans contain both classical waka poetry and poetry with close affinity to renga, haikai no renga, and Noh drama. The introductory text, from specialists on three continents, sheds new light on a literature and art that were instrumental in the renewal of the country in the Momoyama period. The literary quality of the translations and the beauty of the illustrations will be welcomed by both academic and general audiences around the world.

180 pages | 11 1/5 x 9 | © 2014

Poetry


Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements
The Prague Book of Fans
                List of abbreviations
                Fascimile of Ōgi no Sōshi from the National Gallery, Prague English translation and commentary
                Joshua S. mostow et al.
Essays on Ōgi no Sōshi
Summing up the Japanese Poetic Tradition
Folding-Fan Picture Books: Interweaving Text and Image
Renga, Noh, and the Structure of the Prague Ōgi no Sōshi
Comments on the Illustrations
Joe Hloucha: Collector of the Prague Book of Fans
 

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