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An Edo-Period Map of Japan's Provinces

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‘Rebus with a Complete List of the Provinces of Great Japan’ (Dai Nihon kuni zukushi hanjimono 大日本くにづくしはんじ物), also known as ‘[Fictitious] Plan for Amusement in Great Japan’ ([Kari] Dai Nihon asobi ezu [仮]大日本遊び絵図), woodcut, Gifu Prefectural Library, shelfmark:17-14-2, URL: https://www.library.pref.gifu.lg.jp/mapdata/17-14-2.htm

In Edo-period Japan, rebuses were popular. One example is a map of the old Japanese provinces that visualized their names as pictures. Different versions are handed down to us. For instance, a colored print, with the title ‘Guide with a Complete List of Provinces, Convenient for Illiterate People’ (Muhitsu chōhō kuni zukushi annai 無筆重宝国尽案内) is currently in the property of the Kobe City Museum).

The monochrome print, used in this exercise, is held by Gifu Prefectural Library. It has the title ‘Rebus with a Complete List of the Provinces of Great Japan’ (Dai Nihon kuni zukushi hanjimono), or ‘[Fictitious] Plan for Amusement in Great Japan’ ([Kari] Dai Nihon asobi ezu).Through it, you will learn to locate the old provinces of Japan as well as train your Japanese vocabulary. 

Proposition de citation

Judith VitaleAn Edo-Period Map of Japan's Provinces, URL: https://www.adfontes.uzh.ch/en/382150/training/old-maps/japan-provinces/

The author would like to thank Masaharu Yasuda, Gifu Prefectural Library, for his kind support. She would also like to express her gratitude to Nobutake Kamiya and Miyazaki Katsunori for their help.