Physics textbook Dr. Hideki Yukawa used, “Water Margin” Takizawa Bakin read and book of aquatic life in Lake Biwa newly released

Four rare materials held by the Graduate School of Letters, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics (YITP) and the Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University (CER) have been newly digitized and released. The digitization has been realized thanks to the support from donors to Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive Fund.

“李卓吾先生批點忠義水滸傳 10回 (存2回)” and “忠義水滸傳 100巻100回 (存98巻98回)” held by the Graduate School of Letters
[Water Margin (Chinese: 水滸傳; pinyin: Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn)]
These are the only copies that exist today other than the ones held by the National Library of China. Researchers presume that Takizawa Bakin, a Japanese writer of the early 19th century, read these exact copies.

“A text-book of physics. 5th ed., rev. / edited by A. Wilmer Duff (Blakiston, 1921)” held by YITP
Dr. Hideki Yukawa, a Nobel Laureate in Physics in 1949, used this textbook when he was a student at the then Third High School (Daisan Koto Gakko) and kept it by his side even after he became a researcher. The book has many notes and annotations by his hand in the margin.

“湖中産物圖證” Kochu sanbutsu zusho held by CER
This book is vital in the research of the history of biology in Japan, because it is presumed to be the first illustrated book of aquatic life in Lake Biwa. It includes all the species of carps and crucians, as well as aquatic life other than fish and shellfish, such as an otter. Its beautiful colors are still vivid.