Kyoto University Library Network

Xi xia wen hua yan jing (西夏文華嚴經) is a Tangut translation of the Da fang guang fo hua yan jing (大方廣佛華嚴經). Of the 80 volumes, Kyoto University holds volumes 1-5 and 41 in the Graduate School of Letters, and volumes 6-10 and 36 in the Institute for Research in Humanities. Volumes 6-10 and 36 are available at the database 東方學デジタル圖書館, and volumes 1-5 and 41 are now available in the Rare Materials Digital Archive.

“西夏文華嚴經” volume 1

In addition, 10 titles of "Bankoku Jinbutsu zu (万国人物図)", held by the Main Library and the Graduate School of Letters are now available. The "Bankoku jnbutsu zu" is a generic term for illustrated books of ethnography published in the Edo period that depict the characteristics of people around the world. Shijūnikoku jinbutsu zusetsu (四十二国人物図説, Manuscripts from Konoe Collection) by Nisikawa Joken (西川如見), Kaigai jinbutsushū (海外人物輯), Kaigai shotō zusetsu kaisei (海外諸島圖説 改正), Gaiban yōbō zue (外蕃容貌圖画), and other titles were published. It show the changes of the worldviews in early modern Japan.

Left: Great Ming from “四十二国人物図説”
Center: Dutch ship from “異國人物帖”
Right: Dutch people from “異國人物帖”

Using Mirador, an IIIF viewer, you can view multiple images side by side.

Mirador (Left: “四十二国人物図説”, Right: “四十二國人物圖”)

As of February 4, 2022, the Digital Archive provides 1,669,087 images of 20,582 titles.

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