Japanese Rare and Unique Collections at KU: Falconry: In Japanese History and Literature

Falcon History in Japan

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The scanned illustration from 初編上 depicts Ariwara no Narihira (825-880), on the horse, doing falconry in a field. Narihiwa, a Japanese courtier and famous waka poet, was also known for his falconry. Title: 「在原業平交野鷹狩之圖 (Ariwara no Narihira no ni majirite taka o karu no zu)」This depicts Narihira, one 鷹匠 (takajō = hawker), 勢子 (seko = beater), 侍者 (jisha = attendant). 

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The scanned illustrations from 二編上 feature clothes for falconry. 

The scanned illustrations from 二編下 introduces the different pattern (design?) of yabane (feather of an arrow) and names of the body parts of a hawk. 

To see other the other holding libraries and digital images, go to the Union Catalogue of Early Japanese Books, The National Institute of Japanese Literature: http://dbrec.nijl.ac.jp/KTG_W_2054742. Also, see the National Diet Library’s digital collection: https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/850049  

For the scholarly discussion on Kyōsai and Ehon taka kagami, see: https://catalog.lib.kyushu-u.ac.jp/opac_download_md/2236356/p001.pdf 

Falcon History in Japan

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Several versions have been uploaded online: 

https://kotenseki.nijl.ac.jp/biblio/100371336/viewer/1 (held by 宮内庁書陵部) 

https://kotenseki.nijl.ac.jp/biblio/100371337/viewer/1 (held by 宮内庁書陵部) 

https://kotenseki.nijl.ac.jp/biblio/100206226/viewer/1 (held by 丹波篠山市教育委員会 青山歴史村) 

To see more, search 新日本古典籍総合データベース on https://kotenseki.nijl.ac.jp/ 

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There are two entries of this title in the Imperial Household Agency’s Library (copied in 1844 and 1860), but no image is available. Can be access at http://dbrec.nijl.ac.jp/KTG_W_4198452 

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Poems on Falconry

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Digital images (original edition) are available in the Union Catalogue of Early Japanese Books, provided by the National Institute of Japanese Literature. To see the bibliographic record, holding libraries of this collection and digital images, go to: http://dbrec.nijl.ac.jp/KTG_W_188998

Also, for the digital images of 「鷹三百首」, go to: https://rmda.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/item/rb00015000