Overview
Liu Yuxi Anthology from the Southern Song Period Print is an anthology of poetry and essays by Liu Yuxi, a prominent poet and statesman during the Tang Dynasty. This text is a “Southern Song print” (sōban)—a book printed using woodblock techniques during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279). It was designated as a National Treasure due to its exceptionally high state of preservation, beautiful printing quality, and scholarly accuracy. Currently housed at Tenri University Library in Nara Prefecture, it is an invaluable relic that preserves the printing culture of the Song period.
Historical Background
The author, Liu Yuxi (772–842), was a celebrated literary figure known as a “Poetry Master” (shihō). He was close friends with other major poets of the Mid-Tang Dynasty, such as Bai Juyi and Liu Zongyuan. The Southern Song period when this anthology was printed marked a golden age for publishing in China, witnessing a dramatic advancement in printing technology. Texts produced during this era, known as sōban, were highly valued by later generations for their reliability. From the Kamakura Period through the Muromachi Period (1336–1573), many such Song prints arrived in Japan via wandering monks and scholars. They were carefully preserved among the intellectual elite and temples of Japan.
Features and Appeal
- Beauty of Southern Song Printing: A defining characteristic of Song Dynasty printed texts is the combination of intricate woodblock carving with high-quality paper and ink. The clear, powerful characters visible in this work showcase a calligraphic beauty that can be seen as an early root of later Ming Dynasty script styles.
- Textual Reliability: Because publications from the Southern Song period underwent rigorous textual proofreading (kōkan), they faithfully transmit Liu Yuxi’s original writings. This makes the anthology a primary source for literary research.
- Exceptional Preservation: Despite passing several centuries, the ink remains vibrant and the paper texture is well-preserved. This speaks to both the advanced binding techniques of the Song era and the long history of careful transmission within Japan.
- Symbol of Sino-Japanese Cultural Exchange: The fact that a pinnacle of Chinese printing technology traveled to Japan and has been protected as a National Treasure until today serves as crucial evidence of extensive cultural and intellectual exchange across East Asia.
Source: Excerpted from the National Designated Cultural Properties Database (https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/index)