Japan's Early Edo Period Shusi Murakami Pingle Temple Han Ji Publishing Activities

Murakami Heirakuji was a bookstore found in the early year of Edo times in Kyoto, Japan, which had great influence on the bookstores in Edo and Meiji times. Murakami Heirakuji has been regarded as a bookseller specified in books of Nitirenshu by Japanese scholars for a long time. However, it also printed a number of Chinese books, which has not been paid enough attention to yet. The re-printing of Chinese books of Murakami Heirakuji was actually affected by the relationship between its holders and the scholars of Kyoto.Making use of the material relevant to the relationship of the holders of Murakami Heirakuji and Gensei, a monk of Nitirenshu, Chen Yuanbin, an immigrant from China, the Ukai family, a family of scholars specified on Chinese studies, the thesis researches on some of Chinese books printed by Murakami Heirakuji. The author also discusses the association between the printing of Chinese books and the reception of Chinese studies in Edo Times of Japan. The thesis is divided into three chapters.Chapterâ… An Introduction to the Printing Activity of Murakami Heirakuji, outlines the foundation, development and the character of printing of Murakami Heirakuji, and then makes a study on the material about the contact between Murakami Heirakuji and Gensei.Chapterâ…¡The Printing of Murakami Heirakuji with Its Influence on the Dissemination of Gong' an School, makes a research on the formation of Yuan Yuan Chang He Ji written by Gensei and Chen Yuanbin and printed by Murakami Heirakuji, and then discusses the meaning of its printing in the history of the reception of Gong' an School of Japan.Chapter III The Re-Printing of Chinese Books by Murakami Heirakuji and the Punctuation by Ukai, makes a research on the relationship of the Ukai family, Gensei and Murakami Heirakuji, and tentatively discusses the Chinese books punctuated by the Ukai family and re-printed by Murakami Heirakuji.