Falconry: Health, Medicine, and Healing
Falcon Features
鷹書 (Taka Sho) by Call Number: MSC169Publication Date: 1849This manuscript is a copy of 「鷹書」, possibly transcribed by 藤野半三郎 in 嘉永二年 (1849). This work describes different face shapes. Back of the cover: 「高野鷹蔵氏寄贈」 and bookplate 「平野図書箋 5862」.
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群書類従 (gunsho ruijū, chapter 356) by Call Number: D1411Publication Date: unknownThis is chapter 356 of 『群書類従』(Gunsho ruijū), collection of old Japanese books on Japanese literature and history, assembled by Hanawa Hokiichi (1745-1821). 1273 works are organized under 25 subjects. Chapters 356-357 are dedicated to the subject of “Falcon.” This chapter 356 includes the following titles (as handwritten on the cover): 「新修鷹経」, 「嵯峨野物語」,「白鷹記」and「養鷹記」. The featured illustrations are from 「新修鷹経上」. There two illustrations are samples of ugly or not ideal. The text explains how to evaluate the body structure of good falcons.
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新修鷹経 (shinshu taka kyo) by Call Number: MSD96Publication Date: 1750The text of this work is available in 『群書類従』鷹部上（巻356). This version is three volumes in one.
The sample excerpt has a diagram of falcon at the right page and the following text at the left page:
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弘仁九年五月廿二日 賜挙正従六位下兼行備前権掾勲六等巨勢朝臣馬垂正七位上行令史兼美作大目上野公祖継等 別当二品行式部卿親王 中納言兼左近衛大将従三位行春宮大夫陸奥出羽按察使藤原朝臣冬嗣 参議左衛門督従四位下兼守右大弁行近江守良峰朝臣安世 従四位下行越前守勲五等大野朝臣直雄従四位下行美濃権守安倍朝臣易笠右兵衛督従四位下安倍朝臣雄能麿 右近衛中将従四位下兼行左中弁越前権守
国書データベース has 5 records under the uniform title「新修鷹経」
Medicine and Healing
[鷹処方之事] [Medicine for Sick Hawks] by Call Number: MSD94Publication Date: unknownThere are 98 chapters, each describing illnesses of hawks, symptoms, and medication/how to treat the hawks. Also includes diagrams of hawks and mutes/how to distinguish mutes/issues and illnesses which can be determined in feces. The daisen title is half broken, so the title is lost. The author’s name is Hibi Kohachirō (日比小八郎) but we are unable to identify this person.
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痛鷹用薬 (Tsūyō yōyaku) by Call Number: MSD105Publication Date: unknownThere is no identical work in 国書データベース. The first character may be 「病」 not「痛」. This work discusses how to treat sick or injured falcons. The right of this sample page (MS D105 falcon images no feathers) discusses eye treatment, and the left discusses foot treatment.
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鷹養草 鷹口傳之書 全 (Takakudenno sho) [Oral Instruction on Hawks] by Call Number: C3862Publication Date: 1709This book consists of two volumes, 上 (above, 1) and 下 (below, 2) which are combined into one book. This book explains different types of herbs which can be used for remedies for a sick falcon.
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鷹書 (Taka no Sho) by Call Number: MSD100Publication Date: 1750There are many works which have the same title, which describe physical characteristics, physiognomy, and medical treatments of sick falcons. Such knowledge has been transmitted in different schools, but this book does not indicate any particular school it follows.
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The first page of volume one has a table of contents.
The sample page from volume 2 explains different shape of falcons eyes.
In another page of volume 2 the illustration explains the different name of feathers on the body.
鷹書薬方 六拾貫記. (Takasho yakuho. Rokuju kanki) by Call Number: MSC167Publication Date: 元禄12 (1699)This manuscript explains diseases and treatment of falcons. The end of the text shows the names of falconers who created this manuscript, including Yoshida Taemon no Jō and his five disciples. Yoshida may be the founder of the Yoshida School which took the position of overseeing the Tokugawa Shogun’s Hawking Arts. (However, the founder Yoshida died in 1673. So this manuscript may be a copy of an older work.) As indicated on the back of the cover, this manuscript was donated by 高野鷹蔵 (Takano, Takazō) to Hirano. Takano may be one of the founders of Nihon Sangakukai (Japanese Alpine Club) and famous as an expert of canary.
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Database of Pre-Modern Japanese Works contain works titled 「鷹医万病巻 (Taka-I manbyō no maki)」and 「鷹書」, both of which attributed to Yoshida Taemon.
To see the text images of 「鷹医万病巻」go to: https://kotenseki.nijl.ac.jp/biblio/100343069/viewer
to see 「鷹書」, go to https://kotenseki.nijl.ac.jp/biblio/100270471/viewer/1 and https://kotenseki.nijl.ac.jp/biblio/100371564/viewer/1.
Also, the image and text database provided by the Imperial Household Agency has several works attributed to Yoshida: 『鷹医万病巻』『鷹薬灸之書』『鷹十二顔並目形』『鷹顔眼』『鷹書』『鷹秘伝抄』『鷹法議之書』『鷹法書』.
For more details, go to: https://shoryobu.kunaicho.go.jp/