Gunsho Ruijū
Also known as: 群書類従, Gunsho Ruiju, Classified Collection of Books
A vast Edo-period classified anthology that preserves and organizes earlier Japanese texts across genres, from myth and ritual to history and poetry. Compiled by Hanawa Hokiichi and later expanded by his school.
Description
Gunsho Ruijū is a monumental classified collection that gathers earlier Japanese writings spanning mythic narratives, ritual prescriptions, court chronicles, poetry, and learned treatises. Compiled under the direction of Hanawa Hokiichi in the late Edo period, it aimed to conserve scattered manuscripts and printed books by arranging them into thematic categories for study. The collection became a foundational reference for scholars of Kokugaku and historiography, ensuring the survival and accessibility of numerous premodern sources. Subsequent disciples produced supplemental series, extending the project’s scope and influence.
Historiography
The anthology reflects Edo-period scholarly efforts to stabilize the textual record through collation and woodblock printing. Hanawa Hokiichi and his school organized diverse sources into systematic categories, facilitating citation and comparative study. Later supplements expanded coverage, and modern scholarship often consults the series for access to otherwise rare or lost witnesses. Its editorial principles shaped the reception of many early Japanese texts in subsequent academic traditions.
Date Notes
Edo-period classified anthology compiled by Hanawa Hokiichi in the late 18th–early 19th century; continued and expanded by disciples into later supplements (e.g., Zoku Gunsho Ruijū).
Myths
- Compendium of Classical Tales and Laws
- Transmitted Myths of Kami and Emperors
Facts
- Edo-period classified anthology directed by Hanawa Hokiichi.
- Aggregates earlier Japanese works across multiple genres and periods.
- Organized into systematic categories to aid scholarly reference.
- Produced via woodblock printing from collated exemplars.
- Catalyzed Kokugaku and historical-philological study in the late Edo period.
- Later supplements expanded the corpus beyond the initial compilation.
- Preserves access to texts otherwise rare or fragmentary in transmission.
- Influenced editorial standards for citing and arranging classical sources.