Japanese woodblock print book of an Guide to Equine Care.

According to scholar Peter Kornicki, “The title looks like it’s 馬療辞解, which I would not translate as an “Equestrian” guide — something more like ‘Guide to Equine Care and Treatment” — it’s specifically about maintaining their health, akin to a veterinary guide.

This copy was actually printed in 1859 using the original 1759 woodblocks, exactly 100 years later. There is also an exciting image – a pentagram associated with the 5 Chinese phases of Earth, Water, Fire, Metal and Wood. It’s the first explicit pre-Meiji example of this connection I’ve seen.”

According to scholar Brian Bergstrom, “The title looks like it’s 馬療辞解, which I would not translate as an “Equestrian” guide — something more like “Guide to Equine Care and Treatment” — it’s specifically about maintaining their health, akin to a veterinary guide (as the above comment also indicates)”