Object

Draft Kaishi by Karasumaru Mitsuhiro

Keio Object Hub
Person
Date
制作年 AD17
Title
カラスマルミツヒロヒツエイソウ
Collections
Depository
Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) Campus Mita
Ref. number
AW-CEN-002221-0000
License
CC BY Images license
Creditline

慶應義塾(センチュリー赤尾コレクション)

URL
Classification
Art
AI Tagging
Brown Wood Rectangle Art Font

Karasumaru Mitsuhiro (1579-1638) was an Edo-Period aristocrat and noted poet, who was the son of the Minister Equivalent Mitsunobu (1549-1611). Although he advanced smoothly in the official hierarchy, his entanglement in a palace group sex scandal involving several ladies-in-waiting (1609) angered Emperor Goyozei (1571-1617) so much so that he was banished into exile. Later, General Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) worked to have Mitsuhiro pardoned. After being released from banishment, he reassumed a public office, eventually becoming the Provisional Major Counselor of the Senior Second Rank. Versatile artist and free-spirited character, Mitsuhiro showed skills in waka, renga (linked waka poems), brush-ink calligraphy and painting, as well as the formalized art of the tea ceremony (chanoyu). He practiced Zen under Priest Isshi-Bunshu (1608-1646). Training in waka composition under Hosokawa Yusai (1534-1610), he left a private collection of his works, Koyo Wakashu(lit. Golden Leaf Poems). Hailed as one of the most outstanding calligraphers of the era, Mitsuhiro was often referred to as one of the “Kannei-no-Sampitsu,” or the Three Brushes of the Kannei Era. He was originally trained in the traditional Jimyo-In School calligraphy, as was the custom among aristocrats. But he taught himself the Koetsu style and later the Teika style, finally establishing an unstructured and almost freestyle calligraphy that can aptly be called the Mitsuhiro Style.This poem is cited from Mitsuhiro’s private collection, Koyo Wakashu(lit. Golden Leaf Poems, Chapter 9). A Buddhist ceremony, annually held on April 8 of the lunar calendar, celebrating Buddha’s birthday was usually followed by a poetry party. Mitsuhiro wrote the character denoting Buddha with so much power, contrasting vividly with the more freestyle letters that follow. The calligraphy is further proof of master calligrapher Mitsuhiro’s skills.

Buddhist rite (on Buddha’s birthday): Didn’t Buddha know the anguish of this world to be born on this day?

Rights

Ref. number
AW-CEN-002221-0000
License
CC BY
Creditline

慶應義塾(センチュリー赤尾コレクション)

Images
license

Depository and ID

Depository
Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko)
Campus Mita
URL
Classification
Art

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OPEN DATADESIGN

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Title (EN)
Draft Kaishi by Karasumaru Mitsuhiro

Physical description

Weights and quantities
Quantity 1幅

Identifiers

Title (EN)
Draft Kaishi by Karasumaru Mitsuhiro

Physical description

Weights and quantities
Quantity 1幅