1882AD Antique Chinese Japanese qing dynasty 27 books complete set grand history

Records of the Grand Historian, also known by itsChinesenameShiji, is a monumentalhistory of Chinathat is the first of China's24 dynastic histories. TheRecordswas written in the late 2nd centuryBC to early 1st centuryBC by the ancient Chinese historianSima Qian, whose fatherSima Tanhad begun it several decades earlier. The work covers a 2,500-year period from the age of the legendaryYellow Emperorto the reign ofEmperor Wu of Hanin the author's own time, and describes the world as it was known to the Chinese of theWestern Han dynasty.

A little about how these were printed. The printing method in Ja pan up to the late 1800's was through wood blocks (Hangi). An entire page of writing would be laboriously carved out of a block of wood . . . backwards. In the exact same style as the original writer. Usually someone with beautiful calligraphic writing. These wood blocks would then be used to make multiple copies.. This was the way of printing in Japan before they began to go to movable type in the late 1800's. The paper is called washi and is made from mulberry pulp. It's often called "rice paper" but this is a misnomer. No rice was harmed in it's production. The magic thing about washi is that the older the paper gets the softer it gets. Using old Japanese books is like turning the pages of a book made of fine cloth. (The paper doesn't become brittle because of the lack of acid used in the production). Woodblock prints and these old books are a reflection of an artistry that no longer exists.