Observing Images to Identify Herbs: A Study of Materia Medica Images from Early to Mid-Edo Japan

Abstract The transmission of Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》 The Grand Compendium of Materia Medica ) to Japan in the early 17th century significantly influenced the development of Japanese herbalism. Inspired by materia medica illustrations in this work, herbalists during the Edo period (1603–1867) recognized the importance of images in herbal literature and created a series of illustrated texts. In the early Edo, materia medica illustrations primarily imitated or referenced Chinese illustrations. Singular picturing techniques, a lack of accuracy, and a reliance on limited object references characterized these works. However, starting in the 18th century, with the support and promotion of the Edo Shogunate, herbalists, naturalists, and illustrators conducted field surveys and picturings of natural products in Japan and neighboring nations. This effort led to a trend of picturing based on nature. As a result, the illustrations in herbal literature from the mid-Edo period began to exhibit a distinct realistic painting style. This development became essential for verifying names and realities in Japanese herbal studies. Furthermore, the knowledge of botany and natural history during this time influenced the creation of herbal illustrations, paving the way for the differentiation of Japanese herbalism in the later Edo period.