MIZUNO, Chukyo.

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Somoku kin'yo-shu ("Collection of Plants and Trees with Ornamental Leaves"). First edition of this study of plants with variegated leaves, considered by Jack Hillier in his Art of the Japanese Book as one of the best of its kind. Collecting these unusual cultivars was a widespread hobby in the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition, the final volume features an illustration of a perfectly balanced bonsai tree.As Japanese popular taste in plants shifted from emphasizing beauty to showcasing originality, many books were published that documented chimeras and hybrids. Mizuno Chukyo (1767-1834) was a horticulturist whose research focused on these varieties. He produced this present study together with the artists Ooka Unpo and Sekine Untei, both known for their botanical illustrations. The first volume opens with a description of the terminology used by enthusiasts, along with cultivation methods and pest control techniques. It the introduces a total of 1,031 plants, most with accompanying illustrations. These include unique varieties of juniper, ginko, lily, tea plant, jasmine, plum pine, and bamboo. As noted by Toichi Tsumura in a paper for the Japan Society in 1901, Mizuno "displayed a firm conviction that the amateurs could do their work as well as professionals" (p. 11).

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