This is a database constructed by the National Institute of Japanese Literature, which allows users to search and use at once bibliographic information and high-resolution images of Japanese manuscripts and prints before Edo period, held by NIJL and many other institutions and owners at home and overseas. It is open to the public free of charge and can be used by anyone.

This database is a developmental integration of the 'Union Catalogue of Early Japanese Books', a comprehensive catalogue of Japanese classical books, and the 'Database of Pre-Modern Japanese Works', established through the 'Project to Build an International Collaborative Research Network for Pre-modern Japanese Texts (NIJL-NW project)'.

Each book (work) with image stored in the database has a unique DOI (Digital Object Identifier) assigned to it. The DOI system guarantees a persistent access to a web page to which a DOI is assigned. It is recommended to include DOI for citations and or references.

All images of the materials held by NIJL are available for anyone under CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons License, by indicating proper credit.[Details]

Please note that any images of the materials owned by institutions other than NIJL or images without an icon of CC BY-SA 4.0 in the page are not applicable to the Creative Commons Licensing. To use the data not licensed under Creative Commons, please contact the institution that holds the materials to confirm the conditions applied for the use of data. [Details]

This database was partially supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP208010, JP218010, JP228006, JP238006, JP248007, JP258007, JP267002, JP15HP8005, JP16HP7001, JP19HP8003, JP20HP7001, JP21HP8003, JP22HP8003, JP23HP8003.

We would like to thank the original owners and institutions for their cooperation.