The term Suikoden series is loosely based on a classical Chinese novel, Shui Hu Zhuan (Traditional Chinese: 水滸傳; Simplified Chinese: 水浒传; Hanyu Pinyin: Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn, Water Margin), by Shi Naian and Luo Guanzhong. Shui Hu Zhuan is rendered as 水滸伝 in Japanese, and read as Suikoden. Each game centers around relative themes of politics, corruption, revolution, mystical orbs known as True Runes, and the "108 Stars of Destiny" — 108 protagonists also very loosely interpreted from the source material. Though the games follow an irregular chronological sequence, the entire series takes place within the same world among overlapping histories. In some cases, several characters appear in multiple installations.

The games, standard to most RPGs, commonly feature random over world and dungeon battles, inn-based game saves, a turn-based, menu-operated combat system, mini-games and side quests. Saved game data can be transferred from Suikoden to Suikoden II, and Suikoden II to Suikoden III (Suikogaiden Vol.1 can also receive data from Suikoden II, and is transferable to Suikogaiden Vol.2, but only in Japan), and from Suikoden IV to Suikoden Tactics (Rhapsodia in Japan) and now Suikoden V.

Suikoden implements many features as each title allows players, in varying degrees, to:

• Conduct strategically pitched war campaigns.
• Participate in turn based, one-on-one duels.
• Build an immensely large headquarters that grows as the story progresses (and only develops fully if all the characters are recruited).
• Recruit a colorful cast of 108 pre-determined characters, each specializing in various aspects of combat or support.

Essentially, each game follows the plot formula of a coup d'état by corrupt power holder(s), the main protagonist's exile from his/her home, the disastrous misuse of the True Runes, the hero's struggle, despite overwhelming odds, to bring peace to the land alongside his/her friends, and the climactic showdown with the corrupted True Rune.(Wikipedia)

Keisei Suikoden was written by Kyokutei Bakin (1767-1848) a serial story in the style of Suikoden in 1825-35. This novel published in fascicles and illustrated by Toyokuni till his death, then his pupil Kuniyasu continued to illustrate when he died in 1832 ; later the very last fascicles were completed by Sadahide.  An identical copy of this fascicle is kept with the full story ehons at Waseda University Library, Japan. I am deeply grateful to Hans Olof Johansson of Sweden, for the information.

  The publisher is SENKAKUDO. As far as I know this publisher made woodblock prints for Ando Hiroshige and Utgawa Kuniyasu. Special thanks to Guy Pepermans who informed me from the name of the publisher.

The date of the book is BUNSEI BO SHI. Bunsei Era starts with the enthronement of emperor Ninko on the 22nd April, 1818. Bo shi means the year of rat according to the ancient Chinese calendar. Together with Bunsei Bo Shi the year of printing is 1828. The collector's seal in the first page is in kanji hieroglyph 真野曉亭藏書 (Shin Ya Gyo Tei Zo Shu) can be translated as "True Rustic Dawn Mansion Book Collection". Thanks for Mike Harty for deciphering and translating the text on the seal.