Kaishien Gaden

Kaishien Gaden (Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden) is an Edo-Era Japanese edition of the very popular Chinese painting guide Jieziyuan Huazhaun by Wang Gai, first published in the Qing Dynasty in China (1701). The manual was reprinted many times from 1748 onwards in Japan.

Four volumes from the Second Collection, with drawing instructions and examples for ume plums and kiku chrysanthemums. (Lacks the four volumes on ran orchids and take bamboo.)

Vol. 1 Plums: 28pp text, 22 b/w plates; 6pp text, 40 color plates
Vol. 2 Chrysanthemums: 16pp text, 22 b/w plates; 12pp text, 20 b/w plates

The woodblock prints in the plum volume, part 2, are double-page full-color reproductions of botanical art by famous Chinese artists with their seals.

Condition: Covers browned and scuffed with some minor worm damage, interior solid and woodcuts mostly clean and bright, but with some browning and worming mostly outside the image.