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唐本 (とうほん, touhon) Japanese meaning: Chinese books | Kotomora

唐とう本ほん

と

う

ほ

ん

Meanings

1

Chinese books; books from China

Refers to books imported from China, especially in historical contexts. Often used in discussions of Edo-period or earlier Chinese texts.

江え戸ど時じ代だいには多おおくの唐とう本ほんが日本にほんに輸ゆ入にゅうされた。
During the Edo period, many Chinese books were imported into Japan.

Kanji

唐T'ang, China, foreign
本book, present, main

Related words

和わ本ほん
和本 refers to Japanese books, especially those produced in Japan using traditional methods, in contrast to 唐本 which are Chinese imports.

Etymology

唐 (とう, 'Tang' or 'China') + 本 (ほん, 'book'). The term historically referred to books from China, often associated with the Tang dynasty but later used more broadly for Chinese imports.