SHINKYU BASSUI TAISEI: COLLECTION OF MEDICIAL WRITINGS ON ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXABU

[Osaka 1699, Okuda]. Brown stitched wrs., 7 vol. set, 17.5 x 26.5 cm., very good, woodblock printed on hand-made mulberry paper,a few faint stains, 61 illustrations,some old worming mostly in margins, minor loss of text,else clean,solid.RARE! . *** **** *** . . COPY 1 . . G0RDRON E. MESTLER'S PERSONAL COLLECTION COPY . . . WITH HIS PENNED NOTES LOOSELY LAID IN . . *** NOTE: We may have more than one copy of this title in stock. Please note there are major differences between each copy. Please confirm which copy number you are interested in. . *** COPY 1: MESTLER'S PERSONAL COPY: This is Mestler's personal collection copy. The hand written notes by Mestler were used as the basis for entries in his historic bibliography: A GALAXY OF OLD JAPANESE MEDICAL BOOKS WITH MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON EARLY MEDICINE IN JAPAN. . *** MESTLER'S HAND-WRITTEN NOTES: These are excellent examples of Japanese medicine, medical practice, medicines, instruments, organs and related. They were transcribed [mostly verbatim] into the his text for the historic GALAXY. . This is a famous early work on moxabustion and acupuncture by the celebrated Japanese physician, Okamoto Ippo. . *** This work was based on a lost Chinese treatise probably meaning the Rei-su or Ling-shu [Ling-Ch'u] [See Mestler's GALAXY pp.292, 303,321, 472, 476, 188-189] traditionally ascribed to the famous Chinese physician-Emperor Hwang-Ti.[See Mestler also for several other Reisu entries]. . *** WHO WAS PHYSICIAN OKAMOTO IPPO ITTOKUSAI [active 1685-1733]: Okamoto also known by his "Go" [studio name ] Ichiku, who was an eminent author & physician of several medical works of the period. . He wrote popular explanations to contemporary and difficult medical subjects, giving common people access to a basic understanding of Chinese & western medicine. . *** FORMAT Printed on double folded leaves: pagination: 28+18+18+27+ 23+11+13. Each volume has a table of contents. Written in Kambun [Chinese characters or Hanzi] with Furigana to make reading by Japanese easier. There are occasional small red characters brushed in indicating passages of special importance. This was a common practice and feature found in texts in both Japan and China. . * This like many other early Japanese medical treatises were greatly influenced by or were copied from ancient Chinese texts. The illustrations are true to the original Chinese text from which this was translated and printed in Japan. . *** THE ILLUSTRATIONS: . Volume 1: Begins with illustrations of the various medical instruments & needles used in acupuncture. It illustrates the various parts of the anatomy indicating "points"[I in Chinese] where needle are inserted. It starts with hands and forearm, discussion & illustrations of the liver, large intestine, stomach, heart, spleen, small intestine, kidneys and nervous system. The exact methods of inserting acupuncture needles, how to hold, twist, tap and pound in. . * Volume 2: Illustrates a chart of illness and associated acupuncture "points" for needle insertions, treatment of male & female maladies, how to treat various illness by inserting needles in dorsal side, along the spinal column. The tying of the thumbs together for acupressure, with five illustrations of the proximal, ventral and dorsal views. All major "points" are carefully named & located. . Volume 3: Focuses on the "points" located around the head, ear, face, nose, eyes, cheeks, forehead and throat areas. . Volume 4: Attends to the upper shoulders, spinal column, sides of the body, hips and frontal view of the central meridians. . Volume 5: Concentrates on the limbs: arm and hand, thigh, foot and toes. . Volumes 1-5 are illustrated. Volume 6 & 7 focus on a catalogue of illness and treatment by both burning Moxa and acupuncture needles. . *** COLLATION OF DOUBLE-FOLDED LEAVES:: Vol.1. 28 Vol.2. 29 Vol.3. 18 Vol.4. 27 Vol.5 23 Vol.6. 13 Vol.7. 11 . *** SUBJECT: ACUPUNCTURE & MOXIBUSTION: This work contains impressive details per Mestler: "...on some 22 sections covering aspects of moxa [artemisia vulgaris latifolia] and acupuncture: theory, relationship to the pulse; stomach; other internal organs; treatment; 'philosophy' of acupuncture; cautions in the use of acupuncture and moxabustion; preparation and use of moxa cones; how to remove needles; broken needles; how to twist, hit & use needle tube; names of spots and extreme caution; secret spots; how to measure location of sites to apply treatment; names and lengths of bones; interrelations among nerves." This historic and landmark work was widely quoted in subsequent writings on the subject. . * This edition was "explained" by Okamoto, and contains additional illustrations. See Lessa below. . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** CONDITION: . BINDING: The set is by and large in very good, complete condition even though its 300+ years old. It is firmly stitched and bound in the original ochre stiff wrappers. The covers are a bit mottled as usual. A blank fly leaf is torn away in volume 4, this does NOT affect any text. Cover title slips present, as usual a bit "dusty." . CONTENTS: By and large, the contents are clean. . CHITSU [Folding Cloth Case]: The set is contained in traditional indigo blue cloth folding case with bone clasps. Note: Not all copies come with a Chitsu. . Books of this early period are seldom found in such very good condition. Illustrated books of this period and subjects are always rare. . End of Mestler's copy. . ============================================================ . . NOTE: COPY 2: NON-MESTLER'S COPY . *** The above bibliographic notes apply the this copy, excluding any specific notes by Mestler only found in Copy 1 above. The balance of the generic information applies to all copies of this book. . * The Binding: Bound in the publisher's original brown paper covered wrappers. Please read copy 2's description. Rubbing to the edges and corners of the covers, some spotting to the covers [fronts & backs] of all volumes, typical of a book 300 years old. Tightly stitched, firm and solid. Title slips some of the usual rubbing, minor stains, else complete as issued. . The set is contained in a indigo-blue folding cloth covered Chitsu [case] with bone clasps, made about 50 or so years before, with recent brushed title slip. See photos posted to our website. . * The Contents: Vol. 1: A tiny bit of minor worming in the lower margin corner of first 3 pages, and last 2 no impact. . Vol. 2: Minor damp stain in upper margin corner, no impact on plates or text. . Vol. 3: A small text stain on pp 9 & 10 minimal impact. . Vol. 4: A small worm hole in the last 4 pages, top margin, no impact. . Vol. 5: A tiny work hole in first page, no impact on text, a feint stain 4 pages in upper right corner margin, no impact, an old worm hole about 3 cm. long in the center of page, affecting the 9 pages of text and 1 plate minimally. . Vol. 6: A few very tiny pin holes in first 3 pages in upper right corner margin, no impact, lower right very feint damp stain, front to back, no impact. . Vol. 7: No issues. . By and large other than the above comments, the contents remains clean, no issues, with excellent, vivid impression and registry on bright paper. . . END OF COPY 2 DESCRIPTIVE NOTES . ============================================================ . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** BIBLIOGRAPHY: . Gordon E. Mestler: A GALAXY OF OLD JAPANESE MEDICAL BOOKS: pages 474 footnote no. 10; 476,477. For more on Okamoto see pp.474, 476, 126 & 132. . Gordon E. Mestler: INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN INFLUENCES IN PRE-MEIJI JAPANESE MEDICINE. . NOTE: Customers interested in the above 2 Mestler items can find them on our website. . * William A Lessa: CHINESE BODY DIVINATION: Its Forms, Affinities & Function: see pp. 89-111; he also has an excellent discussion on the hands, and how the hand and its lines are used. There are illustrations in SHINKYU BASSUI TAISE showing several views of hands, their "points" or "channels" for acupuncture and moxibustion. * W. Whitney; NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF MEDICAL PROGRESS IN JAPAN: p.421, p.435 item #1001. * JAPAN BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA AND WHO'S WHO, 1958, p.1154 biography of Okamoto. * VEITH, Ilza. [trans.]: HUANG TI NEI CHING SU WEN: THE YELLOW EMPEROR'S CLASSIC OF INTERNAL MEDICINE. * KERLEN, H.: CATALOGUE OF PRE-MEIJI JAPANESE BOOKS & MAPS IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS, p.626, #1507 cites this title as a 7 volume set. * Not listed in: P. Kornicki: JAPANESE MEDICAL & OTHER BOOKS AT THE WELLCOME INSTITUTE. . * .