Great Illustrated Encyclopedia, Revised and Enlarged (Sōbo tōsho kinmō zui taisei), vol. 6 Possibly 1789

Editor: This is an open page from volume six of the "Great Illustrated Encyclopedia," by Nakamura Tekisai. The ink drawings of tigers are pretty dynamic. How do you interpret the choice to include tigers in this encyclopedia? Curator: Well, consider encyclopedias as tools for cultural transmission. Tigers in Japanese art often symbolize power and protection, adopted through Chinese cultural exchange. Their inclusion here may reflect a desire to impart not just knowledge, but also a sense of cultural identity and perhaps even social control. Editor: So, the encyclopedia isn't just about facts, but also about values? Curator: Precisely. It's about shaping a worldview, and this imagery played a role in that. I wonder how its original audience perceived these creatures. Editor: That’s a fascinating idea, framing knowledge itself as a cultural artifact!