Asian Manuscripts and Books in Special Collections: Japan

A manuscript on Nanakusa no sekku (Festival of Seven Herbs), a traditional Japanese ritual of eating seven-herb rice porridge on the 7th of January, which was believed to bring longevity and health and ward off evil. This manuscript contains color illustrations of the seven herbs: seri (Japanese parsley), nazuna (Shepherd's purse), gogyō (cudweed), hakobera (chickweed), tahirako (nipplewort), suzuna (turnip), and suzushiro (daikon radish).

[recent acquisition]

Visit of Admiral Perry's fleet to Japan in 1853.

Full English translation available

Chapin copy incomplete