Hanshu Shihuo Zhi Volume 4: An Ancient Chinese Economic Classic Preserved in Japan

Among the remarkable treasures housed within the Shinpukuji Library (also known as the Ōsu Library) at Ōsu Kannon temple in Nagoya, the Hanshu Shihuo Zhi Volume 4 (漢書食貨志第四) stands as a testament to the enduring cultural connections between China and Japan. This National Treasure is a hand-copied manuscript of part of the Book of Han (漢書), one of the most important historical texts of ancient China, specifically the section known as the "Treatise on Food and Money" — widely considered the earliest economic history ever written. Dating from the Nara to early Heian period (approximately the 8th to 9th century), this scroll represents one of the oldest surviving copies of this pivotal text anywhere in the world.

What Is the Hanshu Shihuo Zhi?

The Hanshu (Book of Han) is the second of China's official dynastic histories, compiled by the historian Ban Gu (32–92 CE) during the Eastern Han dynasty. It chronicles the history of the Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–8 CE) across 100 volumes that include imperial annals, tables, treatises, and biographies. The Shihuo Zhi (食貨志), or "Treatise on Food and Money," constitutes Chapter 24 of this monumental work. Divided into two parts, the first focuses on agricultural policies and food production, while the second addresses the monetary system, commerce, and the manufacturing industry. Together, they provide an extraordinarily detailed account of state economic management in ancient China.

The Ōsu Kannon manuscript preserves the upper volume of this treatise, featuring annotations by the Tang dynasty scholar Yan Shigu (581–645 CE), whose commentaries became the standard reference for understanding the Hanshu. This particular copy, known as the "Shinpukuji edition," is recognized not only for its historical content but also as a remarkable specimen of Nara-period calligraphy.

Physical Description and Historical Significance

The manuscript takes the form of a handscroll (kansubon), measuring approximately 27 centimeters in height and extending over 13 meters in length. It is composed of 20 sheets of yellow hemp paper (kōmashi), a high-quality writing material characteristic of the Nara and early Heian periods. The text is written in elegant brushwork within faintly ruled lines drawn in pale ink, demonstrating the refined scribal practices of Japanese government scriptoria.

A particularly intriguing feature of this manuscript is a vermilion seal impression at the end of the scroll that reads "Shikibu no In" (式部之印), meaning "Seal of the Ministry of Ceremonies." This seal strongly suggests that the manuscript was originally held by the Shikibu-shō, one of the eight central government ministries of the ancient Japanese court system — the office responsible for personnel affairs and the imperial university. This provenance connects the manuscript directly to the highest echelons of Nara-period scholarship and governance.

The scroll is also notable for its shisai (紙背), or reverse writing. On the back of the paper, a later hand has copied the Amida-kyō Gisho (阿弥陀経義疏), a commentary on the Amitabha Sutra by the monk Sōchō. A colophon on this reverse text is dated to the second year of Kahō (1095 CE), providing a valuable terminus ante quem and revealing the medieval practice of reusing precious paper.

Why Was It Designated a National Treasure?

The Hanshu Shihuo Zhi Volume 4 was designated a National Treasure of Japan on June 9, 1951. Several factors contributed to this designation. As one of the oldest surviving manuscript copies of the Book of Han in the world, it holds immense value for the study of Chinese classical texts and their transmission to East Asia. The manuscript preserves readings and textual variants that may differ from later printed editions, making it an essential resource for philological research. It has been recorded in major bibliographic works such as the Keiseki Hōkoshi and the Koitsu Sōsho, attesting to its long-recognized scholarly importance.

Furthermore, the manuscript provides tangible evidence of the vigorous cultural exchange between Tang China and Nara Japan, a period when Japanese scholars and monks actively sought out and copied Chinese classical texts. The presence of the Shikibu seal reveals the institutional context in which such texts were preserved and studied in ancient Japan.

Ōsu Kannon and the Shinpukuji Library

The manuscript is owned by Hōshōin (宝生院), popularly known as Ōsu Kannon, a Shingon Buddhist temple located in the heart of Nagoya's vibrant Ōsu district. The temple's full name is Kitanosan Shinpukuji Hōshōin (北野山真福寺宝生院), and it is counted among the three great Kannon temples of Japan.

Ōsu Kannon traces its origins to the Nanbokuchō period (14th century), when it was established in what is now Hashima City, Gifu Prefecture, under the patronage of Emperor Go-Daigo. The temple's founder, the learned monk Nōshin, assembled an extraordinary collection of Japanese and Chinese manuscripts that became known as the Shinpukuji Library (真福寺文庫) or Ōsu Library (大須文庫). Over the centuries, this collection grew to encompass approximately 15,000 volumes and is recognized as one of the three great manuscript libraries of Japan, alongside those of Daigoji and Negoroji temples.

In 1612, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the temple relocated to its present site in Nagoya to safeguard the invaluable library from flooding. Today the collection includes four National Treasures and 37 Important Cultural Properties, among them the oldest surviving manuscript of the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters).

Visiting Ōsu Kannon

While the Hanshu Shihuo Zhi Volume 4 is currently deposited at the Nagoya City Museum for conservation, the Ōsu Kannon temple itself is a rewarding destination for visitors interested in Japanese cultural heritage. The main hall, reconstructed in 1970 after wartime destruction, features striking vermilion pillars and a traditional architectural style. The temple grounds include a bell tower known as the "Kasei no Kane" (Bell of the Flower Spirit), and the Niōmon gate provides an impressive entrance.

Ōsu Kannon holds regular events throughout the year, including antique markets on the 18th and 28th of each month. The Setsubun festival in February features a traditional "Fuku no Kami Oni-oi" (Fortune God Demon-Chasing) ceremony that has been performed since the Muromachi period. The surrounding Ōsu Shopping District is one of Nagoya's most popular areas, offering a lively mix of traditional culture, street food, vintage clothing shops, and electronics stores.

Surrounding Attractions

The Ōsu area offers numerous opportunities to explore Nagoya's cultural landscape. Within walking distance of the temple, visitors can find Bansho-ji, a historic temple associated with Oda Nobunaga's family. The Nagoya City Science Museum, with its distinctive planetarium dome, and the Nagoya City Art Museum are both located nearby in Shirakawa Park. Nagoya Castle, one of Japan's most famous landmarks, is easily accessible by subway.

For those interested in manuscripts and historical documents, the Nagoya City Museum occasionally features special exhibitions that include items from the Shinpukuji Library. Visitors planning a trip are encouraged to check the museum's exhibition schedule in advance, as the National Treasure manuscripts are shown only on rare occasions.