Calligrapher Takayasu Rōoku and the Question of Authorship of the Tokai Setsuyō Hyakkatsū Encyclopedia

Abstract

This work focuses on calligrapher Takayasu Rōoku (years of life are unknown), who lived and worked in Osaka in the second half of the 18th century. The life and work of Takayasu Rōoku deserve attention because it was him who complied one of the most popular encyclopedias of his time, Tokai Setsuyō Hyakkatsū (Complete Compendium of Urban Knowledge, Osaka, 1801), which went through several editions during the 19th century and affected the worldview of city dwellers of that time. Based on the evidence from contemporaries and the analysis of books on which Rōoku worked, this work describes his social circle, interests, lifestyle, and his main areas of work.

Keywords

• takayasu rōoku
• setsuyōshū
• calligraphy
• bunjin
• book publishing
• kamigata
• engraving