A Binoculars-Wielding God

THE TENTEIKIKUN [The Creator's Miracle]

Adapted by Ishikawa Koreyasu, illustrated by Sensai Eitaku

Meiji 19 [1886]

Scarce and exceptional first edition thus, a light-hearted illustrated adaptation of the Creation and story of Adam and Eve from the Book of Genesis into Japanese.

Very good.

Price: $4,500.00

THE TENTEIKIKUN [The Creator's Miracle]

The story of Bible editions in Japan reflects the country's fraught history with Christianity; after the religion was banned in the early 17th century, the portions printed by Catholic missionaries were lost. The ban on Christianity lifted only in the Meiji era, first partially in 1873, then enshrined in the Constitution 1889 by means of an article on the freedom of religion.

The post-Meiji Restoration translation effort of the Hebrew Bible began in 1882 and was finally completed in 1887. Books were completed and issued in parts, with Genesis first issued in 1883. This heavily illustrated and lighthearted version of the two most famous stories from Genesis adapts the text to a well-established literary genre of Meiji Japan: Kusazōshi, a forerunner of manga, popular illustrated works in which the text weaves around the illustrations that dominate most spreads. Because they were meant for a popular audience, the text is often primarily in hiragana, or kanji with furigana; here, the text is shown in three writing styles: kanji, hiragana, and romaji (with furigana glosses).

This presentation suggests how Christian mythology must have appeared to Japanese readers, much as (say) Greek mythology seems to modern American readers of Homer. God is depicted as a mustachioed wise man, while the serpent approaches Eve on legs. Most charmingly, one spread depicts God spying on Adam and Eve with a pair of binoculars.

While listed as the "first part," it is all published, with no second volume ever appearing. We find only two copies, at the National Diet Library and at Waseda University.

Read more: Cohen, Japanese Translations of the Hebrew Bible.

The Object

Tokyo: [Tokiwaya], Meiji 19 [1886]. 7.75'' x 5.25''. Original printed wrappers. Woodblock printed and illustrated, including 16 double-page spreads. Title page, matching illustrated cover, printed on red metallic-speckled paper. 39, [1] pages. Some staining and wear to wrappers, with 2.5'' paper repair to rear wrapper verso. Black ink calligraphy to versos of both wrappers. Housed in custom blue cloth chemise.

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