One book.
39.4 cm by 1550 cm.
This is an album, containing specimens of handwriting
of famous persons, treasured no less for their beautiful calligraphy than for the fame of their writers. The practice of
collecting such calligraphic specimens and preserving them as
valuable heirlooms, which had been in vogue from olden times,
gained special favor during the Tokugawa era, and many
noted connoisseurs arose. Of the numerous specimens contained in this album those bearing "alleged," are specimens
of doubted authenticity, though in the opinion of some critics
they are the work of the personage specified. However, these
calligraphic specimens, though they may not be the autograph
handwriting of those to whom they are attributed, are valuable as representing the best and most characteristic calligraphic specimens of various periods since the Nara period
(708-780). In the following table of the contents, explanation is omitted except in cases of special interest.
(Alleged) A fragment of sutra copied by Shomu Tenno.
Though this is not an autograph writing of the
famous Emperor, it is, as a specimen of calligraphy
used in sutra-copying during Nara period, very
highly valued.
(Alleged) A fragment of a sutra by Empress Komyo. The
paper lined in silver, and bearing spots in silver
all over.
(Alleged) A fragment of autograph writing by Gotoba Tenno.
A fragment of a copy of Shin Kokinshu (a famous
authology of waka published in Kamakura
period).
(Alleged) A fragment, autograph letter by Gofukakusa Tenno.
(Alleged) A fragment, autograph letter by Go-Uda Tenno.
(Alleged) A fragment of autograph poem by Kameyama
Tenno.
(Alleged) A fragment of autograph writing by Fushimi
Tenno.
(Alleged) A fragment of a verse from "Gosen Wakashu," by
Fushimi Tenno.
(Alleged) An autograph of Gonijo Tenno. A fragment of
"Gyokuyo Wakashu."
(Alleged) An autograph of Godaigo Tenno. A fragment of
"Kokin Wakashu."
(Alleged) A fragment of a copy of "Gosen Wakashu," by Goko-gon Tenno.
(Alleged) A fragment of a letter by Go-en-yu Tenno.
(Alleged) A fragment of a verse by Go-komatsu Tenno.
(Alleged) A small shikishi by Shoko Tenno.
(Alleged) A fragment of a verse by Go-hana-zono Tenno.
(Alleged) A fragment of a verse by Go-tsuchi-mikado Tenno.
(Alleged) A fragment by a lady-in-waiting at the court of
Go-tsuchi-mikado Tenno.
(Alleged) A fragment of a verse by Go-kashi-wara Tenno.
(Alleged) A poem in Chinese style on kaishi (note paper), by
Go-nara Tenno.
(Alleged) A Japanese poem on Shikishi (literally, "colored
paper," or fancy paper of square shape often bearing ornamental designs), by Go-nara Tenno.
A fragment of a letter, by Yokoin's autograph, a
fragment.
A verse on Shikishi by Go-mino Tenno.
Hon-nami Koyetsu's autograph, a fragment of a
letter. Date, June 19.
A verse on Shikishi, by Go-sai Tenno.
A verse on Shikishi, by Go-mino Tenno.
(Alleged) Tsu Morikuni's autograph, a verse on tanjaku (a
narrow strip of paper).
Konoe Sanmyakuni style of writing. A verse on
Shikishi.
A verse on Shikishi by Go-mino Tenno.
(Alleged) Konoe Michitsugu's autograph, a fragment of a
copy of Shin Kokinshu.
(Alleged) Konoe Masaiye's autograph, a fragment of a story.
(Alleged) Konoe Hisamichi's autograph, a fragment of a
copy of Kokinshu.
(Alleged) Konoe Taneiye's autograph.
(Alleged) Konoe Nobutada's autograph, a fragment of a
"Zen" text.
(Alleged) Konoe Nobuhiro's autograph, a fragment of a
letter.
Princess Akiko's autograph.
(Alleged) Kujo Michiiye's autograph, a fragment of "Shogyo."
(Alleged) Nijo Akizane's autograph, a fragment of a copy
of Kokinshu.
Ichijo Kaneyoshi's autograph.
(Alleged) Ichijo Fuyura's autograph, a fragment of a verse.
(Alleged) Ichijo Norifusa's autograph.
(Alleged) Kyogoku Yoshitsune's autograph.
(Alleged) Takatsukasa Nobuhisa's autograph. A fragment
of a waka (The May green lovelier than the
blossom).
(Alleged) Asukai Masachika's autograph. A fragment of a
waka collection.
(Alleged) Kazan-in Masanaga's autograph. A fragment of
a waka collection.
(Alleged) Tokudaiji Kintane's autograph. A fragment of a
waka from "Shin Shui," (a famous waka anthology).
(Alleged) Sesonji Yukitoshi's autograph. A fragment of a
waka.
(Alleged) Ashikaga Yoshimasa's (8th Shogun) autograph.
A fragment of "Kokin Wakashu."
(Alleged) Fujiwara Teika's autograph. A fragment of letter.
(Alleged) Do. A fragment of a diary.
(Alleged) Do. A fragment of a waka.
(Alleged) Fujiwara Toshinari's autograph.
(Alleged) Nakano-in Tameiye's autograph. A fragment of
a waka collection.
(Alleged) Nijo Tameuji's autograph.
(Alleged) Nijo Tameyo's autograph. A fragment of "Kosen
Wakashu" (later Waka Collection).
(Alleged) Nijo Tamesada's autograph.
(Alleged) Nijo Tamechika's autograph. A fragment of a
waka from "Kokin Wakashu."
(Alleged) Nijo Tameaki's autograph. A fragment of "Kashusho" (Waka Collection Selected).
(Alleged) Nijo Tameshige's autograph.
(Alleged) Nijo Tamesuke's autograph. A fragment of "Shin
Senzai Wakashu" (Waka anthology).
(Alleged) Reizei Tamesuke's autograph. A fragment of
"Kosen Wakashu" (Waka anthology).
(Alleged) Abutsu Sen-ni's autograph. A fragment of "Kokin
Wakashu."
(Alleged) Reizei Tamehide's autograph. A fragment of
"Zoku Kokin Wakashu" (Waka anthology).
(Alleged) Nijo Tamefuji's autograph. A fragment of "Kokin
Wakashu."
(Alleged) Reizei Tameyuki's autograph. A fragment of
"Shin Kokin Wakashu."
(Alleged) Reizei Tametomi's autograph.
(Alleged) Reizei Tamehiro's autograph. A fragment of
"Shui Wakashu."
(Alleged) Reizei Tamemasu's autograph. A fragment of
"Shin Chokusen Wakashu" (New waka anthology
compiled by Imperial order).
(Alleged) Reizei Tamemitsu's autograph. A fragment of
"Shin Chokusen Wakashu."
The following are pasted on the back of the "Tekagami"
Album.
(Alleged) Autograph of Fujiwara Kamatari (Founder of
great Fujiwara family). A fragment of a sutra
written in gold.
(Alleged) Prince Munetaka's autograph.
Soren-in-miya Nyudo Son-en Shin-no's autograph.
A fragment of a postscript.
(Alleged) Gosuko-in's autograph. A fragment of Shin
Chokusen Waka-shu.
(Alleged) Prince Fushiminomiya Kunitaka Shin-no's autograph.
A fragment of a renga.
(Alleged) Prince Fushiminomiya Sada-atsu Shin-no's autograph.
A fragment of "Shika Wakashu."
(Alleged) Prince Hachijo-no-miya Chijin Shin-no's autograph.
(Alleged) Mibu Iyetaka's autograph. A fragment of "Senzai
Wakashu."
Kinoshita Katsutoshi's autograph.
(Alleged) Minamoto Toshiyori's autograph. A "Sanbo-e"
fragment. This is one of the "celebrated autograph fragments," so called, or popularly known
as "Todaiji fragment" and is highly valued among
collectors.
(Alleged) Nijo Tameiye's autograph. A fragment of "Go
Shui Wakashu."
(Alleged) Sono Motouji's autograph.
(Alleged) Seson-ji Yukiyoshi's autograph. A fragment of
"Waka Roeishu."
(Alleged) Seson-ji Yukiyoshi's autograph.
(Alleged) Seson-ji Yukitoshi's autograph. A fragment of
"Azuma Kagami."
(Alleged) Seson-ji Yukitada's autograph.
(Alleged) Seson-ji Sadanari's autograph. A fragment of
"Waka Roeishu."
(Alleged) Seson-ji Tsunetomo's autograph.
(Alleged) Kamo-no Nagaakira's autograph. A poem.
(Alleged) Asukai Masatsuen's autograph, (on indigo paper.)
(Alleged) Asukai Masaari's autograph. A fragment of "Go
Isshu Wakashu."
(Alleged) Asukai Masachika's autograph. A fragment of
"Shin Zoku Kokin-shu."
(Alleged) Asukai Masatsuna's autograph. A fragment of
Kaishi.
(Alleged) Hino Toshimitsu's autograph. A fragment of "Go
Shui Wakashu."
(Alleged) Karasumaru Mitsuhiro's autograph. Waka Shikishi.
(Alleged) Ogura Sanena's autograph. A fragment of "Meikashu."
(Alleged) Shimizudani Saneaki's autograph. A fragment
of "Shui Wakashu."
(Alleged) Sanjo Nishi Sanetaka's autograph.
(Alleged) Nakayama Nobuchika's autograph. Waka Kaishi
(Pocket paper bearing a waka).
(Alleged) Nyudo Doken's autograph. A fragment of "Shin
Kokin Wakashu."
(Alleged) Anenokoji Naritsugu's autograph.
(Alleged) Shigenoi Norikuni's autograph. A fragment of
"Shin Chokusen Wakashu."
(Alleged) Tomiko-ji Sukenao's autograph. A fragment of
"Shin Zoku Kokin Wakashu."
(Alleged) Autograph of Kitabatake Chikaaki (famous scholar
statesman). A waka Shikishi.
(Alleged) Madeno-koji Korefusa's autograph.
(Alleged) Hosokawa Mochiyuki's autograph. A fragment
of "Shin Kokin Wakashu."
(Alleged) Autograph of Minamoto Yorimasa (famous warrior). A fragment of "Kokin Wakashu."
(Alleged) Nijoin Sanuki's autograph. A fragment of "Genji
Monogatari."
(Alleged) Nijo Tamekane's autograph.
(Alleged) Autograph of priest Saigyo (famous saint). A
letter.
(Alleged) Shoko-in's autograph. A fragment of "Kashusho."
(Alleged) Hibi Masahiro's autograph. (Masahiro was a pupil
of Shotetsu, a secretary of Tofuku-ji.) A fragment of "Shin Kokin Wakashu."
(Alleged) Renga export, Botanka Shohaku's autograph. A
fragment of a waka collection.
(Alleged) Hoin Gyoko's autograph. A fragment of "Shin
Zoku Kokin Wakashu." A fragment of a renga.
(Alleged) Autograph of Wakayama Sumihide, Minbu Shoyu.
(Alleged) Risshi Shuko's autograph. A fragment of "Zoku
Isshu Wakashu."
(Alleged) Ho-in Gyoken's autograph. A fragment of "Kokin
Wakashu."
(Alleged) Soji-in Ho-in Gyojo's autograph. A fragment of
"Kashusho."
(Alleged) Sagara Tametsugu's autograph. A fragment of a
waka collection.
(Alleged) Satomura Shohitsu's autograph. A fragment of a
renga.
(Alleged) Renga expert, Soyo's autograph.
(Alleged) Renga expert, Sozen's autograph.
(Alleged) Renga expert, Shoryu's autograph.
(Alleged) Jobo-ji Dono Kinsuke's autograph.
(Alleged) Takeda Motomitsu's autograph. A waka from
"Kokinshu."
(Alleged) Renga expert, Soboku's autograph. A fragment of
a story.
(Alleged) Renga expert, Shocho's autograph.
(Alleged) Tsumori Tsunekuni's autograph. A fragment of a
sutra written in gold an indigo paper.
(Alleged) Renga expert, Shoha's autograph.
(Alleged) A fragment of a renga.
(Alleged) Sekizenin Songa's autograph.
(Alleged) Takeno Jowo's autograph.
(Alleged) Karasumaru Fuyumitsu's autograph. A fragment
of a renga.
(Alleged) Hosokawa Sansai's autograph. A Shikishi, bearing
a waka.
Hon-ami Koetsu's autograph.
Takinomotobo Shojo's autograph. A waka.
(A d 2) NYUDO SON-EN SHIN-NO'S AUTOGRAPH WRITING, UNSHU SHOSOKU
A fragment. One scroll.
Text: 30 cm by 48.7 cm.
Postscript: 29.5 cm by 16.5 cm.
Mounted: 30 cm by 120.5 cm.
It is a commonplace of the Oriental art that calligraphy
occupies a very high place of honor in its domain. Because
of the sacrosanct reverence paid to writing as a means of
communicating knowledge and wisdom, the art of the calligrapher was placed at higher level than even that of artist
―painter or sculptor― and indeed it was regarded as a kind
of fine art of which painting and carving are but minor
branches. Nor can it be denied that calligraphy has exerted
more influence than any other one thing conceivable on all
the branches of art from painting to architecture. The grace
and boldness of design as well as the peculiar strength of
line for which the typical Japanese paintings are noted, are
attributable to the influence of calligraphy in which the people
had been trained for nearly two thousand years. The constant use of the brush in writing idiographs, and the habit
of writing from the elbow, indeed, from the shoulder, or, as
the master of calligraphy is wont to say, even from the
inner spirit, instead of, writing from the wrist, as in writing
European letters, have fostered a certain peculiarity of manner
which cannot fail to have left a visible influence on all works
of art or craft in which the hand and arm are the principal
agents in execution. Little wonder, therefore, that olden
specimens of calligraphy, especially of celebrated scholars,
statesmen and warriors as well as professional calligraphers
and artists, should be treated as invaluable relics of the mighty
past. Of the Japanese idiographs, and, for that matter, the
Chinese, too, may it be said more than of the written words
of any other country that the personality of the writer is
discernible in the lines and strokes of his written words.
It is evident from the records of the treasures of the
Imperial Household, as preserved in Shoso-in, Nara, that the
work of a master calligraphist like Ogishi (Chinese calligrapher) was very much venerated and emulated even in the
Nara period. Later, we find the Emperor Saga a zealous
devotes of calligraphy. But the palm of pioneer master in
calligraphy must be given to Kobo Daishi who had studied
the art in China and brought it home in early 9th century.
It was 0no-no Dofu who Japanized this essentially Chinese
art, and originated a peculiar style of it unknown in the land
of original calligraphy. This school passing through some
stages of development, marked by such masters as Fujiwara
Sari, was nearly perfected, as it were, by Fujiwara Yukinari
in the form of the famous style Seson-ji, which has ever been
regarded as the peculiar Japanese innovation in calligraphy
in contradistinction to the classic Chinese style. This Seson-ji
style has been handed down from father to son from the time
of Yukinari till in the Kamakura period Shoren-in NyudoSon-en Shin-no whose name is mentioned at the head of this
article, studied this style and became a zealous devotee thereof
and finally originated a new style of Japanese calligraphy
after the Seson-ji model, and calling it Shoren-in style, had
the honor of it being adopted by the Shogun as the calligraphic
mode of the Shogunate House, hence its popular name "Oiyeryu," or "Honorable-House-Style." The scroll of which the
fragment here shown forms an extract, embodied in its original form the "Unshu Shosoku," a collection of letters written
by Fujiwara Meiko, which the great calligraphist copied out
as a text book for both calligraphy and epistolary compositions.
That this scroll contains only a part of a whole is accounted for by the fact that such was the enthusiasm with
which it was sought by his numerous pupils that the original
was cut into many parts and divided among his more fortunate
disciples.
The postscript shows that this was bestowed by Konoe
Sakihisa in 1571 on a certain person.
(A d 3) A BOOK OF MODEL CALLIGRAPHY BY SHOREN-IN SONCHO-HO-SHIN-NO
Text: 35.3 cm by 105.4 cm.
Mounted: Including postscript, 258.5 cm long.
Adopted son of the Emperor O-gi-machi Tenno, Sonchoho-Shin-no became the chief of Tendai sect, and was responsible for rebuilding the Enryaku-ji of Mount Eizan, Kyoto
which had been destroyed by Hideyoshi. In calligraphy he
was a distinguished devotee of the Son-en-ho-Shin-no school.
He died in 1597.
In this scroll are found two forms of "Iroha" (Japanese
alphabet) syllabary and three shorter poems, with the date,
1683.
(A d 4) FIVE AUTOGRAPH LETTERS OF SHOKA-DO SHOJO
One scroll.
Text: 30.2 cm by 325.5 cm.
Mounted: Including postscript, 371 cm long.
The author of these letters was one of the three master
calligraphists of the times he lived in, the other two being
Hon-nami Koetsu and Konoe Nobutada.
At first he studied Soncho-ho-Shin-no and later practised
after the model of Kobo Daishi. He died in 1639.
(A d 5 ) BOOK OF CALLIGRAPHIC MODEL BY SHOKA-DO SHOJO
Printed by wooden blocks. One folded volume.
34 cm by 610.5 cm.
(A d 6) BOOK OF CALLIGRAPHIC MODEL, WRITTEN BY GENRYU
One scroll.
28.4 cm by 734 cm.
A native of Yedo, he was a distinguished calligraphist of
his times. He died in 1722.
(A d 7) BOOK OF CALLIGRAPHIC MODEL, BY AOKI HANZO
Two folded volumes.
Aoki was a contemporary of Bunka and Bunsei (early
19th century) and, with Kusaka San-no-jo, counted among the
greatest calligraphists of his day. He was the Shogun's
"right-hand" calligraphist, that is, Shogun's autograph-writer.
(A d 8) A MODEL BOOK OF "IROHA" BY TACHIBANA MORIBE
One folded volume.
33 cm by 1286 cm.
The volume contains "Iroha" syllabary written in various
calligraphic styles for emulation. Moribe was a noted scholar
of Japanese classics, and died in 1849.
(A d 9) BOOK OF CALLIGRAPHIC MODEL BY DOI JOKOKU
Five folded volumes.
1. 38. cm by 491 cm.
On the cover is written "Tempo 10th year" (1839),
etc.
2. 39. cm by 516. cm.
On the cover is written "Tempo 13th year" (1842),
etc.
3. 38. cm by 489. cm.
On the cover is written "Model done by Doi Jokoku
of the Mizoguchi school.
4. 32. cm by 363. cm.
Bears the same inscriptoin as above.
5. 38. cm by 718 cm.
Bears the same inscription as above.
Doi Jokoku was a teacher of calligraphy, being a pupil
of Tokoku of the Mizoguchi school.
Jokoku was a calligraphist of the Mizoguchi school.
(A d 10) CALLIGRAPHIC SPECIMENS OF ICHIKAWA BEI-AN
Written on fans. Two fans.
Bei-an distinguished himself by studying the models of
old Chinese masters. In contrast to the native "oiyeryu"
style universally prevalent at the time, he tried to revive by
his own example the old Tang school of writing. He died in
1857.
(A d 11) CALLIGRAPHIC SPECIMEN OF MAKI RYOKO
One fan.
Famous teacher of calligraphy in Yedo, he had numerous
pupils, his style being in great vogue at the time. He died
in 1833.
