Rare illustrated manuscripts from Japan on show at the Chester Beatty Library.
A 17th-century story is told through a series of illustrations in the Nara Ehon style. Only three of the original twelve volumes of the story survive and they are on display at the Chester Beatty Library. Japanese scholars have just completed translating the surviving part of the story.
One of the finest collections in the world.
The picture books of Nara are extremely rare and little is known about them. The illustrations evoke stories about medieval Japan, military history and popular romance novels.
The special blue dyed paper with delicate gold drawings frequently used in Nara Ehon is similar to that used for making Buddhist religious texts.
Nara is the ancient capital city of Japan. It is believed that the style is derived from religious artists working in Nara who lost their jobs when the government closed down the temples in the 15th century.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 30 June 1979. The reporter is Sean Carberry.
