okan Syozoku Cyakuyo Sidai. Colour Illustrations of Japanese Noble Women's Attires.

An outstanding work to illustrate the correct way for Japanese noblewomen to wear formal attire in the Japanese Court - the Nyokan's jyunihitoe, written by Imaizumi Sadasuke, a scholar of the Kokugaku movement which emphasized Japanese classical studies who evidently researched the works of the eighteenth century noble Heizo Sadatake Ise. Woodblock print. The complete work. 8vo. 1 volume, opening from left to right, 15 pages, with 14 woodcut images, all of which are beautifully hand-painted in full colour and captioned in margins. Text is in Japanese. In publisher's original brown paper boards, with title slip to front. Traditional karitoji binding ("semi-bound" meaning title page and contents without a book cover) string-stitched at spine, fukurotoji style ("bound-pocket" with folded leafs bound into spine), and opening from left to right. Volume measures approximately 18 x 25 x 0,5 cm. Chips and indication of burrowing to covers, otherwise in very good and original condition, a stellar work with vivid, meticulously coloured, woodcut illustration, internally crisp and clean. Striking woodcut illustrations of jyunihitoe - the official dress worn by female court officials and ladies-in-waiting of Imperial Japan, for approximately 1000 years from the Heian period to the Edo period, painted with meticulous detail to bring depth and vibrant colour. During the Heian period (794-1185) women could hold court offices of substantial responsibility, managing the affairs of the Emperor. Female palace attendants were employed by the Imperial Bureau of Palace Attendants from among the court aristocracy, but were required to have sufficient education in Chinese classics to be accepted. Women who held official positions and served in the Court of Japan from the Heian to the Edo period were called Nyokan (Nyobo, Kyujyo). The most famous is Murasaki Shikibu, who is considered the author of Tale of Genji. The imperial court offices were reserved for members of the court aristocracy and the ladies-in-waiting or 'palace attendants' were commonly educated members of the nobility. Female palace attendants were divided in two classes, which in turn had several ranks, signifying their task. The first class consisted of the nyokan, or ladies-in-waiting who held court offices: naishi-kami (shoji) naishi-suke (tenji) and naishi-no-jo (shoji). The second class were the female palace attendants: myobu, osashi, osue and nyoju. The ladies-in-waiting worked as personal assistants, tending to the Emperor's wardrobe, assisting the emperor's baths, serving meals, performing and attending court rituals. Ladies-in-waiting could be appointed as concubines, consorts or even Empresses by the Emperor or the heir to the throne. The function of a lady-in-waiting as potential concubine was abolished in 1924.