Japan: Suharaya, and others, Kaei 7 (1854). Fascinating and scarce account of a samurai's son whose personal determination led him to rise above the family's financial poverty, to properly care for his horse, build his own stables, and breed additional horses, all by learning the ancient long-forgotten ways of the ancient samurai. 8vo. 1 volume, 78 pages, including 9 full-page illustrations, two of which are hand coloured. Woodblock print. All text is in Japanese. Postscript records the first edition being published in 1806. Traditional karitoji paper binding string-stitched at spine, fukurotoji style ("bound-pocket" with folded leafs bound into spine), and opening from left to right. Natural paper covers, with manuscript title label to front. Together the volumes measure approximately 18 x 25,5 x 1 cm. Negligible creasing to boards and age-toning to upper margins, otherwise in very good and original condition, a pleasing and uncommon work. Based primarily on contemporary descriptions of the financial distress felt by the long-standing prestigious samurai class, such as the present account, it is accepted, without dissent that the ruling samurai class suffered increasing poverty during the Tokugawa (Edo) period. Seifu Murata (1746-1811) wrote: "For years now, the samurai have suffered from poverty and their minds have been occupied by making a living. ‘Buy this, sell that’ and ‘pawn this to pay for that’ has become all of their lives. Even for those dedicated to their duties, it was inevitable to debase themselves and to engage in unsavory conduct (i.e., engage in trading)". Even the wives of those who were earning as much as 200 koku busied themselves in trading and in shops. This is the hero's journey, imparted firsthand, of a brilliant young samurai born into poverty but wide-eyed and unrelentingly in pursuit of mastering the skills of a samurai and honouring his destined status in this class of nobility. Young Ryuzando Shujin began by learning the equestrian warrior traditions with a borrowed horse, and was eventually able to convince his father to buy him a horse of his own, despite of the family's economic situation. When the cost of caring for the horse became a burden no longer bearable, and he was told the horse would be sold, he fixated on finding a solution. Immediately, he began conducting extensive research into the ancient methods employed when most samurai were farmers who held the role of warrior in the event of a battle. The solution to combating the costs was breeding and selling. He began the process, while being scrutinized, mocked and judged by others, in particular jeering his rudimentary (cost-effective) hand-made stables. But he did not let any outside opinions pierce his confidence. After repeated trial and error, it was not long that he possessed six horses. Surely too, he had solved the challenges of the household finances. Shujin championed horsemanship as a duty of all samurai. With the belief that all samurai should therefore possess their own horse, in part to best perform archery, spearmanship, and swordsmanship, and owing to the fact that this was an era where some samurai families were poor, he published his methods for others to follow, and ultimately uphold their rights and responsibilities that their title suggests. The volume includes instructions for building horse stables by hand, without incurring high costs. He describes the breeding process, his training methodology, and proper feeding. His own experiences with horses falling to sickness and how he treated them back to health are also shared. Clearly a man with a charitable and honest heart, he concludes by stating that all of this aside, the single most important thing for a healthy and happy horse is "aishin" (affection).
