Book of Songs Items Illustration. High Definition. Ten Sheets. Composed and illustrated by Xi Jingxun. Preface in Honghua 4th Year-PDF

The "Illustrated Dictionary of the Book of Songs" is a set of natural history books compiled and illustrated by the Neo-Confucian scholar Asai Toshinobu/Asai Tōyō during the Edo period in Japan, mainly consisting of the Book of Songs accompanied by more than a hundred exquisite ancient paintings. It is divided into ten volumes: three volumes of grasses, two volumes of trees, two volumes of birds, one volume of beasts, one volume of scales, and one volume of insects. This edition was approximately drawn in the first year of Kansei (1848).

The book includes the author's preface by Hosai Tsunehira in the fourth year of Kofu (1847), the preface by Seidou Kiyohiro in the year Kaei 5 (1848), and the postscript by Kiyohiro in the year Kaei 11 (1851). Hosai Tsunehira, also known as Toyo, was once a monk and a doctor, and wrote works such as "The Essentials of Four Diagnoses." Recognizing the differences in time and place, and the differences between ancient and modern times, many items in the Book of Songs are difficult to distinguish. The purpose of Confucius' statement to know the names of many plants, birds, beasts, insects, and fish is difficult to achieve, and the works of predecessors are often insufficient. Therefore, he discussed with painters and merchants in the Kyoto area to compile this book together, personally reviewed and approved it, "added color to it, distinguishing the colors, making it easy for children to recognize," thus forming this book.