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This study examines the emerging process of the books of fishes(魚譜) in the premodern East Asia. It was by the late 16th century that those literatures in earnest began to appear in the East Asia: Minzhong-Haicuoshu(『閩中海錯疏』) compiled by Tu Benjun(屠本畯) in 1596. It is evaluated as the first version of ichthyography in China. In Japan the first book of fishes is Nitto-Gyofu(『日東魚譜』) compiled by Kanda Genshen(神田玄泉) in 1719. It is also the first ‘Atlas of Fishes’ in Japan. And the first one of fishes in Chosun is Woohaeri-Eobo(『牛海異魚譜』) compiled by Kim Ryo in 1803, which emerged 207 and 84 years later than China and Japan. Among those literatures in the respective countries, the Japanese ones are remarkable. By the latter 18th century they were overwhelming in both quantitative and qualitative aspects. The most important feature in the Japanese ones was the illustration. As the first version was made as an illustrated guide, the 'illustration(圖)’ rather than the ‘writing(譜)’ was the key to tell its information. The illustrations expressed animatedly in Shyurinzu(『衆鱗圖』), Kurishi-Gyofu(『栗氏魚譜』), Baien-Gyofu(『梅園魚譜』), etc. represents a great achievement in the natural history of fishes.