Three items, including Foronda Collection, have been newly released

This month’s new releases are as follows: prayer book in Ilocano of Foronda Collection held by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies; Chinese classic “Shuo wen jie zi xi zhuan” (説文解字繋傳 40卷校勘記3卷) held by the Graduate School of Letters and “Sasakike den” (佐々貴家傳) held by the Main Library.

Foronda Collection was donated by the late Marcelino Foronda, Filipino historian, and includes important documents for Philippine history, literature, and ethnography (especially in Ilokos region). The collection also holds books for Catholic prayers and underground publications as well as banned books during the Marcos regime. The ornately designed prayer book released this time was estimated to be created in the 1850’s and was probably used by high-society ladies in Vigan, Ilocos, Northern Philippines.