KAIBARA, Ekiken.

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Jusen: Nihon saijiki ("A Japanese Book of Seasons"). First edition of the first saijiki (almanac of seasonal rituals and ceremonies) published in the Edo period. It introduces religious customs and events, official duties, agricultural practices, and blossoming plants for each month of the year, with references to Chinese sources. It was used by haiku poets for inspiration throughout the early modern period.In Nihon saijiki, a wide range of information and advice is given to the reader. For example, it suggests that readers should buy yuzu fruit in the 11th month to make yubeshi sweets with. It explains that the 15th day of the 8th month, the peak of autumn, is customarily when people should admire the moon at night. It also gives a recipe for soy sauce using soybeans.Kaibara Ekiken (1630-1714) was a Neo-Confucian philosopher, travel writer, and the father of botany in Japan. He contributed heavily to the spread of Confucianism by publishing easily accessible commentaries in the vernacular language.

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