Cheaply printed charms, medical advice, cooking recipes, and general "life hacking"

Anonymous.

[JAPANESE MAGIC CHARMS AND MEDICAL RECIPES]. Banyō chōhōki ("Treasury of useful things"). BOUND WITH: Myōjutsu chie no maki ("Volume of wisdom of the mysterious arts")

Kyōto: Kaminabeya Mohē, 1789 (ca. Kansei gannen). 8vo (217 x 150 mm). Together two works in one volume: [6] + [4] double leaves producing [12] + [8] pp., presumed complete. Karitoji stab-stitched (musubitoji) in the traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Later wrappers wrappers, manuscript title on cover. Wormtrack through both works (SEE IMAGES) affecting text, signs of age and use thoughout, creasing, some staining. Good. Item #4080

THESE CHEAPLY PRINTED BOOKLETS ARE ESSENTIALLY HACK JOBS THAT OFFER "ADVICE FOR ALL SITUATIONS" TO READERS OF THE SO-CALLED LOWER CLASS, THE MOST ELUSIVE MARKET OF BOOK PURCHASERS WHOSE NEEDS AND DESIRES HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEEN RECOGNIZED BY ACADEMIA AS WORTHY OF SCHOLARLY ATTENTION.

Neither work has been located by us in libraries in Japan or elsewhere.

Herein we find charms to cure ailments, diseases, and injuries, including "medicinal cures" for nose bleeds, burns, numbness, heartburn, styes, and so on. For example, "If bitten by a rat: char some cat hair and knead it into a disch of rice." Additionally, the reader is warned about consuming combinations of certain foods, for instance watermelon eaten together with soba noodles will result in stomach swelling and possible death. There are charms of a practical nature, such as: "write the character for 'the sea' on your stomach three times and you will naturally awaken from your sleep at the right time"; or: "To make your child sleep well, write the character for mountain (山) on their face three times with your finger." Naturally we find cooking recipes, such as Kinzanji miso, soy sauce, etc., and helpful hints for "life hacking" (a term coined in the 21st century which we are delighted to employ in our description of two rare 18th-century Japanese imprints).

Price: $1,250.00