Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History
2024 Special Summer Exhibition
The Great Adventure of Knowledge: Invaluable Masterpieces from Toyo Bunko

Introduction
Encounters with the unknown have always sparked human curiosity. In times without airplanes or the internet, people
embarked on voyages, carrying books that traversed the globe. The Toyo Bunko, a research library of Oriental Studies, is atreasure trove of such intellectual exploration. Guiding us through the Oriental world are renowned literary works, maps, andpaintings you may have seen in textbooks. Set sail on a journey through the Orient with carefully selected masterpieces fromone of Japan's premier collections!
What is the Toyo Bunko?
Located in Bunkyō Ward, Tokyo, the Toyo Bunko is one of Asia's largest research libraries for Oriental Studies, and one of
the world's top five libraries in the field. Founded in 1924, its core collection, the "Morrison Library," was acquired in bulk
from Australian journalist G.E. Morrison, who was stationed in Beijing. The collection was later purchased by Hisaya Iwasaki,
the third president of Mitsubishi and a noted bibliophile. Today, the collection exceeds one million volumes, including fivenational treasures and seven important cultural properties.

Morrison’s Stacks in Toyo Bunko

Exhibition Structure and Main Exhibits*All materials owned by the Toyo Bunko Foundation.
Prologue
As the beginning of the journey into the Oriental world, we use maps of Asia created by Westerners as guides, highlighting
various scripts that have emerged in this region from ancient times to the present, unraveling the languages of the Orient.

A New Map of Asia, Abraham Ortelius, 1570, Antwerp
Exhibition Period: July 19 (Fri) – September 1 (Sun)
Chapter1: The Journey to Asia
China, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, and the Islamic world. Encyclopedias, history books, geographical books, andtravelogues introduce characteristic aspects of the culture and climate of each area in the Orient.

A Reference Book of Korean Customs, transcribed in the early 19th century
Exhibition Period: July 19 (Fri) - September 1 (Sun) (Pages changed between First Rotation and Second Rotation)

A Map of East Indies, Gerardus Mercator, 1613-19, Amsterdam
Exhibition Period: August 6 (Tue) - September 1 (Sun)
Chapter２: East and West Interacting WorldIn the mid-15th century, the Age of Exploration established new routes between the East and the West. Through books that
document the experiences and observations of Westerners who traveled to the Orient, we delve into the interactions between
the Eastern and Western worlds.

Il Milione: The Travels of Marco Polo, dictated by Marco Polo, written by Rustichello, 1601, Zaragoza
Exhibition Period: July 19 (Fri) - August 4 (Sun) (Il Milione: The Travels of Marco Polo, dictated by Marco Polo,
written by Rustichello, 1602, Venice to be displayed from August 6 (Tue) - September 1 (Sun))

The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe, 1719, London
Exhibition Period: July 19 (Fri) - August 4 (Sun)Collected Letters of the Society of Jesus, 1780-83, Paris
Exhibition Period: July 19 (Fri) - September 1 (Sun)Chapter３: Japan in the World
From the 16th century onwards, Westerners reached the island nation of Japan. Here we trace Japan's journey, exploring its
formation and evolution through records from the surrounding world.

Interpretations of the Analects of Confucius, compiled by He Yan, transcribed in 1315
Designated Important Cultural Property of Japan
Exhibition Period: July 19 (Fri) - September 1 (Sun) (Pages changed between First Rotation and Second Rotation)

Annotated Literary Selections, transcribed in 10th-12th century
National Treasure of Japan
Exhibition Period: July 19 (Fri) - September 1 (Sun) (Pages changed between First Rotation and Second Rotation)

The Picture of the First Opium War, Edward Duncan, 1843, London
Exhibition Period: August 6 (Tue) - September 1 (Sun)

EpilogueA collection of items related to the "Morrison Library," the centerpiece of the Toyo Bunko. The restoration work on water-damaged
materials, conducted during the Taishō period, is linked to modern practices in cultural property preservation.

Wet Document：Souvenir of the Jubilee of the Shanghai Fire Department
Exhibition Period: July 19 (Fri) - September 1 (Sun)[Exhibition Period]
July 19, 2024 (Fri) – September 1, 2024 (Sun)First Rotation: July 19, 2024 (Fri) – August 4, 2024 (Sun)
Second Rotation: August 6, 2024 (Tue) – September 1, 2024 (Sun)*Please note that the exhibition’s first phase will be shorter[Opening Hours]
9:00-17:00 (Last admission to exhibition rooms at 16:30)*Opens at 10:00 on July 19, 2024 (Fri)[Closed]August 5, 2024 (Mon)[Venue]Special Exhibition Room, Planning Exhibition Room[Admission Fee]
General: 1,200 yen (960 yen),
University/College Students: 960 yen (760 yen)*High school students and younger: Free
*Bracketed prices indicate group rates for 20 or more people, and individuals aged 65*Persons presenting a disability certificate or "MiraiRo ID" and one accompanying person enter for
free*Includes admission to permanent exhibitions*Separate admission fee required for the Kaga Honda Museum*Electronic tickets available (no specified date or time)[Organizers] Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum, Yomiuri Shimbun[Supervision] Toyo Bunko[Special Cooperation] Hokkoku Shimbun[Support] NHK Kanazawa Broadcasting Station, Hokuriku Broadcasting, Ishikawa Television Broadcasting, Television
Kanazawa Corporation, Hokuriku Asahi Broadcasting, FM Ishikawa Broadcasting