Manuscript on paper, entitled on label on upper covers "Mankin itto zokukai" ["Commentaries on the Mankin itto" or "Abundance of Golden Knowledge Contained in Here"]

75; 64 folding leaves. Two vols. 8vo (275 x 180 mm.), orig. pale blue wrappers (label on upper covers rather corroded but legible), new stitching. [Japan]: Preface dated March 1755.

A rare commentary by the Japanese Aizu(?) fiefdom doctor Setsuo Kagayama on Wan jin yi tong by Tingxian Gong (1522-1619), physician of the Imperial Medical Academy in Beijing. The Wan jin yi tong is part of a larger work, the Wanbing Huichun of 1585 [Restoration of Health from Myriad Diseases], the author's most famous work, which had pharmaceutical recipes from about 240 different ingredients.

Gong came from a prominent family of physicians in Jiangxi Province. He became well known at age 71 after curing a case of severe abdominal distention suffered by the favorite concubine of the king of Lu. He wrote many medical books in his later years.

This manuscript presents on each page a passage from the Wan jin yi tong, with Kagayama's extensive commentary. It is important to note that the commentaries contained here are entirely different from those in the 1684 printed Kyoto edition, Mankin itto jutsusho.

A fine set. Minor dampstaining.