(A c 1) OLD DOCUMENTS BELONGING TO THE TODAI-JI TEMPLE
One scroll.
Mounted: 31.5 cm by 399 cm.
Today-ji, Nara, was, as it were, the headquarters of the
Buddhist religion in Japan, built by Shomu Tenno who thereby
staged a great revival of the faith. It constituted during the
Nara period a centre of enormous hieratic influence. After
the removal of the Imperial capital to Kyoto this temple had
lost something of its old prestige, and yet for a long time
continued to wield no small influence.
In the roll here shown are assembled 18 old documents,
ranging in date from 1055 to 1372 A.D., of which the following is a rough description.
1. A receipt for the tribute-rice sent to Todaiji.
(Date: November 17, 1055.)
2. A receipt for tribute-rice.
(Date: April 17, 1056.)
3. A sale certificate of farm ground owned by Shogen
of Taian-ji.
(Date: March 14, 1095.)
4. A memorandum, notifying the donation of land for
the price of oil for the lanterns of the Daibutsu-den.
(Date: July, 1137.)
5. A receipt for the sacred rice.
(Date: February 25, 1160.)
6. Receipt of money for land and house sold.
(Date: February, 1172.)
7. A fragment of "okibumi" (letter left), by MinamotoNakako.
(Date: October 5, 1215.)
8. A written pledge by a provincial governor (in scriptural language).
(Date: January 13, 1269.)
9. A written pledge by Kengyo and others officiating for
the year.
(Date: December 5, 1266.)
This is pasted on the back of the foregoing decument
by a provincial governor.
10. A written pledge by Taira-Suehiro.
(Date: September 10, 1281.)
This is written on the back of the Gohoin paper of
Nigatsu-do.
11. A receipt for interests by Rinsho.
(Date: April 30, 1319.)
It contains katakana, or side syllabary.
12. A certificate for sale and purchase of land.
(Date: June 28, 1320.)
It contains some hirakana or cursive syllabary.
13. A written pledge by Benkai and others.
(Date: February 2, 1325.)
The beginning missing.
14. A receipt for tribute rice, by Nobuiye, chief priest
of the Hachimangu.
(Date; May 17, .)
15. A draft of an oath by Kakusane.
(Date: June 11, 1337.)
16. A receipt for interests, signed by representatives of
Genren-ji.
(Date: December 30, 1349.)
17. A receipt by Shingen.
(Date: May 17, 1362.)
18. A sale certificate of the Goro estate.
(Date: last day of August, 1372.)
(A c 2) NARA KOMONJO DAISEN, OR NARA OLD-DOCUMENT-ROLLERS
Seven pieces.
Length: (1) 39.8 cm; (2) 36.5 cm; (3) 38.2 cm; (4)
22.8 cm; (5) 39.7 cm; (6) 34.5 cm; (7) 40.2 cm.
These are wooden rollers on which old documents were
wound. The head, or the upper end of each roller forms a
projected label with a written inscription, describing the
nature of its contents. Following are the translations of such
inscriptions.
1. Two sheets, exemption from labor at Kofukuji-building, concerning two rice-coolies, 1097.
2. Exemption from land tax, Konbusen, 1140.
3. Letter by provincial governor, exempting the property
of Nonomiya, etc., from taxes, 1159. Original.
4. Receipt for the rice donated by the Saisho fraternity,
Tonan-in. 1139.
5. Acknowledgement for services of farmers of "bathfields" by Ryoshinbo, August, 1239.
6. Receipt. . . . (invisible) Tahara, Chojunbo, 1294.
7. Juchiin, Sho-Amidabutsu, January, 1316.
(A c 3) A TWO-FOLD STANDING SCREEN BEARING OLD DOCUMENTS
164 cm from top to bottom; 190 cm sidelong,
It contains 18 documents generally relating to the two
temples Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji, Nara, of dates between 1192
and 1747, and 7 records concerning catechisms at religious
meetings.
1. A writ issued by acting governor of Harima Province,
addressed to Obe-no-Go. August 15, 1192.
2. Letter by representative of Harima Province, August
23. The written seal-mark seen at the back was made
by Shunjobo Chogen, a priest who earned renown for
having collected subscriptions for the reconstruction of
the Great Buddha Temple in early Kamakura period, so
that this document is of considerable historical interest.
3. A sort of certificate for imitation into Buddhist doctrines
by the priest Kenshin, November 16, 1255.
4. A fragment of letter, signed Ryokai and three others,
December 26, 1373.
5. An acknowledgement by "ryugisha" functionary for
Hokke meeting, July, 1503.
6. An acknowledgement by "ryugisha" functionary for
"Jion" meeting.
7. Receipt of rice-money by the master of Ko-shibo, December 18, 1520.
8. An acknowledgement of the offer of the permanent
services of some sacred dancers and the cost of sake
and refreshments to Kasuga Shrine, March 6, 1552.
9. Copy of Tokugawa Iyeyasu's "read-seal" letter, August
6, 1602.
10. Copy of an acknowledgement by "shogisha" functionary
at ten Yuishiki lectures at Kasuga Shrine, December 1,
1620.
11. Writ of appointment, Kofukuji, March, 1650.
12. Letter by Isei, the Igishi (master of ceremonies),
April 10.
13. Copy of "letter of reassurance" by Tokugawa-Iyeshige,
bearing his "red seal," August 11, 1747.
14. August letter written by the priest, Jissen, October 6.
15. An August letter written by Genjo, the Jugishi, March
16.
The above 15 documents are on one side of the screen.
1. An acknowledgement of an appointment by Ichijo-in,
May 29, 1562.
2. A letter by Nijo Hogan, August 5.
3. List of the estates in the Ichijo-in territory, September
21, 1595.
4. Letter of congratulation by priest Yusai, August 1.
5. Draft of memorial by Haruakira, keeper at Kasuga
Shrine, October 20, 1664.
6. Records of questions and answers at religious meetings.
(Seven pieces.) The foregoing 5 old documents and
seven records are on the other side of the screen.
(A c 4) OLD DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS OF THE KOFUKU-JI TEMPLE
8 pieces.
The greatest Gofuku-ji temple, Nara, was built by Fujiwara
family in 710 A.D. on the sie on which it stands today, as their
permanent family temple. Under its jurisdiction was placed the
Kasuga Shrine, and it commanded great prosperity for a long
time.
Following are the list of the Kofuku-ji documents.
1. Memo. of particulars by representative of Kofuku-ji
meetings, August, 1380.
2. Copy of acknowledgement of appointment at a function
by Jissei, Vice Abbot, November 18, 1622.
3. An acknowledgement of appointment at a function by
Jissei, Vice Abbot, May 1624.
4. Memo. by the chief officer of Kofuku-ji temple, August
18, 1706.
5. Letter by Abbot Yosei, November 22.
6. Letter by priest Eisei, February 28.
7. Letter by priest Eisei, last day of February.
8. Memo. of questions and answers by Kaiken of Sonko-in.
(A c 5) OLD DOCUMENTS OF NANHO-IN A SUBSIDIARY TEMPLE OF THE TENRYUJI
One scroll.
31 cm by 328.8 cm.
Tenryu-ji was the famous temple built by the Shogun Takauji, at the suggestion of the priest, Soseki (Muso Kokushi) to pray
for the posthumous happiness of Godaigo Tenno, and Nanho-in
was one of the tatchu, or subsidiary temples of the temple. The
documents contained in the scroll are as follows.
1. Copy of draft letter by Ashikaga-Takauji, December 5,
1350. At the back of the letter is a seal by Akamatsu
Mitsuhiro, October 17, 1411.
2. Letter accompanying the contribution of Hoida-no-go,
Harima, by Akamatsu Mitsuhiro, October 17, 1411.
3. Sale of do. by Akamatsu Mitsuhiro, October 17, 1411.
4. Sale certificate of Mikawa-mura, Harima by Akamatsu
Mitsuhiro, July 11, 1415.
5. Sale certificate, etc., by Akamatsu Mitsuhiro, December
13, 1416.
6. Letter by Akamatsu Mitsuhiro, December 21.
7. Letter by Akamatsu Mitsuhiro, September 12.
(A c 6) AN ACCOUNT OF TRIBUTE-RICE FOR SHIMONAWANO-MURA AND OSAKABE-NO-GO, KAWACHI PROVINCE
One scroll.
The former, April 22, 1408.
The latter, August 25, 1411.
(A c 7) MEMORANDA REGARDING SURVEYING OF NISHIKAMO LAND, YAMASHIRO PROVINCE
Two scrolls.
1. Memorandum regarding surveying of Nishikamo by
Maeda Gen-i, November, 1586. Mounted: 27 cm. by
255 cm.
2. Memorandum regarding surveying of land belonging
to Lord of Shimozuke, at Shimokamo. December,
1589. Mounted: 27 cm by 300.3 cm.
Maeda Gen-i was one of the five officers under Toyotomi
Hideyoshi whose duty it was principally to look after affairs
of temples and shrines. The documents in question are those
which he had prepared at the order of Hideyoshi.
(A c 8) LETTER BY MAEDA GEN-I, MARCH 10, ADDRESSED T0 TOJI TEMPLE
One scroll.
Letter proper: 15 cm by 47.7 cm. Mounted: 98 cm by 50 cm.
(A c 9) LETTER BY PRIEST TENKAI, FEBRUARY 18, ADDRESSED TO ITAMI HARIMANOKAMI
One scroll.
Letter proper: 30 cm by 48.8 cm.
Mounted: 116.4 cm. by 80.1 cm.
Tenkai was the celebrated priest who was in the great
confidence of Tokugawa Iyeyasu, and served him long as his
political adviser. He was responsible in no small measure for
the building of Nikko Mousoleum. He died in 1643.
(A c 10) LETTER BY IKEDA MITSUMASA: 9TH.
One scroll.
Letter proper: 29.6 cm by 26.1 cm.
Mounted: 110 cm by 33.2 cm.
Mitsumasa was lord of Okayama, Bizen province, celebrated for his administrative talents. He died in 1682.
(A c 11) KANJINCHO, OR SUBSCRIPTION BOOK FOR REPAIRS OF NARA'S GREAT BUDDHA
May, 1685. One folded volume.
30.5 cm by 329 cm.
The Great Buddha temple, Todai-ji, built in 751, was
burnt in 1180. It was reconstructed in 1195, but in 1367 was
again destroyed by fire, and left unrepaired till Kokei of
Ryusho-in, Todai-ji, conceived the ambitious scheme of reconstruction, and collected funds by appealing to all sorts and
conditions of people. The result was that in 1705 the "joto"
ceremony, or the celebration of completion of the framework
of the edifice, was held, and in 1709 the dedication was celebrated. The Subscription Book was the one used in this historical service.
(A c 12) LETTER BY KONOE IYEHIRO, SEPTEMBER 19, ADDRESSED TO HIRAMATSU, ZEN-CHUNAGON
Letter proper: 16 cm by 43.6 cm.
Mounted: 97.7 cm by 45.3 cm.
Iyehiro, one of the five great court nobles, had once held
the high office of Regent. He was noted for his skill in calligraphy of the Japanese style. He died in 1736.
(A c 13) DRAFT COPY OF ORAL IMPERIAL ORDINANCE BY GOSAKURAMACHI TENNO
(Date: August 19, 1809.)
SUSIDIARY LETTER BY KAZAN-IN AITOKU
(Date: August 19, 1809.)
LETTER BY YORIHIRO, UDAIBEN.
(Date: August 17.)
Both the raishi (ceremonial blank paper accompanying
the written text) and the folded envelope are attached.
(A c 14) REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE ESTATES OF JINGI-KAN
By Ban Nobutomo. One roll.
Text: 21.5 cm by 24.7 cm. Mounted: 114.6 cm by 44.5 cm.
Nobutomo was a celebrated research scholar in the latter
Tokugawa period. He died in 1746.
(A c 15) COLLECTION OF LETTERS BY ARTISTS OF RECENT TIMES
One scroll.
20 cm by 1044.5 cm, including mikaeshi.
The scroll contains 18 letters written by as many modern
painters of note.
1. Letter by Nukina Kaioku.
(Kaikoku was a scholar in Chinese in Kyoto, versed
in painting and calligraphy, especially the latter.
Esteemed as one of the greatest calligraphists in
modern times. He died in 1863.)
2. Letter by Matsumura Keibun. Date, August 23.
(Keibun studied under his own brother, Goshun,
and was a skilled painter, especially of birds and
flowers. He died in 1904.)
3. Letter by Matsumura Goshun. Date, 14th.
(Goshun, celebrated painter and poet, was at first
a pupil of Yosano Buson, but later emulated the style
of Maruyama 0-kyo, establishing the so-called Shijo
school of painting. He died in 1811.)
4. Letter by Nishiyama Hoen. Date, June 22.
(A pupil of Keibun, he died in 1867.)
5. Letter by Urakami Shunkin. Date, January 18.
(Son of Urakami Gyokudo, he was a portrait
painter. He died in 1846.)
6. Letter by Okamoto Toyohiko. Date, July 19.
(Pupil of Goshun, he died in 1845.)
7. Letter by Nakanishi Koseki. Date, March 23.
(Pupil of Konishi Kaisen. He died in 1884.)
8. Letter by Yagi Kiho. Date, September 4.
(Pupil of Keibun, Kiho was a man of Tempo era
(1843-1844) or thereabouts.)
9. Letter by Noro Kaiseki.
(Kaiseki studied under Ike Taiga, and later copied
the style of the Chinese artist, Ifukyu.)
10. Letter by Okada Hanko. Date, April 21.
(He studied with his father, Beisanjin, acquiring
style of the Southern Sung school. He died in 1846.)
11. Letter by Shiokawa Bunrin. Date, April 29.
(Pupil of Okamoto Toyohiko, he died during Tempo
era.)
12. Letter by Hirano Gogaku. Date, October 26.
(Gogaku was a Buddhist priest. He learned from
the priest Tetsu-o of Nagasaki, and was a skilled
landscape painter in black and white.)
13. Letter by Nishijima Seiho. Date, October 10.
(Studied the Southern Sung school, and was a good
landscape painter.)
14. Letter by Taniguchi Aizan. Date, August 27.
(Studied under Takaku Aigai and Tani-Buncho,
dying in 1899.)
15. Letter by Tani Buncho. Date, November 4.
(Buncho was a most versatile artist, good at almost
every kind of picture, from landscape, flowers, birds,
fish and insects to portrait painting. He studied by
the best models of Sung, Yuan and early Ching schools
as well as of Japanese painters, ancient and modern.
He died in 1841.)
16. Letter by Tomioka Tessai. Date, April 3.
(Tessai was both scholar and painter. He was
a brilliant figure among the painters of the Southern
Sung school. Was appointed an Art Commissioner
of the Imperial Household, and also member of the
Imperial Fine Art Academy. He died in 1924.)
