Letter by Konoe Nobuhiro
- Person
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作者近衛信尋
- Date
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制作年 AD17
- Title
- コノエノブヒロヒツショウソク
- Collections
- Century Akao Collection
- Depository
- Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) Campus Mita
Early Edo aristocrat Konoe Nobuhiro (1599-1649) was the fourth son of Emperor Goyozei (1571-1617). At age 7, he was adopted by his uncle Nobutada (1565-1614), who was heirless. Nobuhiro’s promotion in the government hierarchy was spectacular. He was only 25 when appointed Regent and Head of Clan. While he was trained in the aristocratic ways of tea by Furuta Oribe (1543-1615), Nobuhiro had a humorous character and a carefree lifestyle. For example, even after he assumed Regency, he frequented the noted Shimabara night entertainment quarters and courted the then famous high-class geisha Yoshino Dayu. In this way, Nobuhiro was quite a man of the world. Since childhood, he practiced calligraphy under his adoptive father, Nobutada, and later attained such thorough mastery that one can hardly tell apart the works done by these two men. The powerful and dynamic flow of brush strokes, however, is Nobuhiro’s own. He was more than a faithful successor, reaching the highest level of attainment.This letter is signed “Nobu Hiro” with “Nobu” in hiragana and “Hiro” in a Chinese character. This style of signing one’s name was typical in letters addressed to women. The addressee, simply written as “Kan-Shikibu,” was a lady-in-waiting in close personal attendance to Emperor Goyozei. Letters intended for high-ranking personalities were usually addressed to their servants, who would deliver them to their masters. We can safely assume the identity of “Shichijo” mentioned in this letter is Prince Shokai (1591-1609), who was the second son of Emperor Goyozei, and as such, Nobuhiro’s elder brother. Shokai was called Lord Shichijo. He had entered the Ninnaji Temple in 1598 at age 8 and later took the tonsure. However, he died at the young age of 19. From this letter, we can assume that a merchant was sent to Prince Shokai delivering some kind of gift. Nobuhiro expresses his thanks for this gift and volunteers to send in return a gift of camellia flowers. Since Prince Shokai died young, this letter must have been written when Nobuhiro was only 10 or younger, so it is a valuable piece as the earliest extant calligraphic writing by Nobuhiro. At this young age, we can see that he had quite mastered the Konoe Style that his adoptive father had perfected. This is a fine example proving Nobuhiro’s reputation as a skilled calligrapher.
けふは御きやく人御さ候よし候まゝ明日わたり昨日のいさはや七條へつかハし候へはあさからすしこうかたしけ いたしなかられ候申上まいらせ候此ほたんたゝ今持てまいられ候てもし御ように候ハゝ進上いたし候ハんよし候此よし御披露候へく候菅式部とのへのふ尋
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- Letter by Konoe Nobuhiro
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