Object

Shikishi by Motoori Norinaga

Keio Object Hub
Person
Date
制作年 AD18
Title
モトオリノリナガヒツシキシ
Collections
Depository
Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) Campus Mita
Ref. number
AW-CEN-001191-0000
License
CC BY Images license
Creditline

慶應義塾(センチュリー赤尾コレクション)

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Art
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A scholar of Japanese history and Japanology during the latter part of the Edo Period, Motoori Norinaga (1730-1801) was born into a cotton wholesaler’s family in Matsuzaka in Ise (Mie Pref.). He received training in calligraphy and yokyoku (songs for Noh performances) and was quickly absorbed in Chinese and Japanese classics. At age 23 (1752), Norinaga went to Edo to study medicine and Chinese classics. Five years later (1757), he returned to his hometown to open a clinic, where, while working as a practitioner, he also devoted himself to the studies of classics. When Norinaga was around 34, Japanese classical scholar Kamono Mabuchi (1697-1769) visited Matsuzaka. Norinaga went to study under Mabuchi, and over the years he came to lead the classical Japanese studies and was later hired to serve the Kishu-Tokugawa Clan (one of the three most powerful Tokugawa families that produced shoguns). The private school he was running, Suzuno-Ya, teemed with over 490 disciples. Through his research concerning the literary classic Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji), Norinaga proposed a new interpretation of the essence of Japanese aesthetics, defining it as “mono no aware,” or appreciation for things representing natural beauty or classical sensitivity. He was the proponent of the ancient, original Japanese thoughts, without the Confucian influence, thus is generally regarded as the founder of Japanese studies during the latter part of the Edo Period. The 44-volume Kojiki-Den (lit. Tales of Ancient Japan) was published after 32 years of laborious research and is today revered as Norinaga’s lifework. In calligraphy, Norinaga mastered the softly flowing Wayo-style, also known as Oie School and Teika School, whose features contrast well with the more masculine Kara-yo, or the Chinese-style. A brushwork copy of a poem from Suzunoya-Shu (Vol. I) on a shikishi, decorated small square paper. The letters are scattered across undecorated paper. This piecewas perhaps detached from a shikishi bound into a book or a decorated screen door (byobu).

Title: Poems about the Feast of the Meandering Stream (Kyokusui-no-En; annual celebration of the ancient imperial court, held in early March) Today words come easily to mind, my brush running non-stop like a fast-flowing stream.

Rights

Ref. number
AW-CEN-001191-0000
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)
Shikishi by Motoori Norinaga

Physical description

Weights and quantities
Quantity 1幅

Identifiers

Title (EN)
Shikishi by Motoori Norinaga

Physical description

Weights and quantities
Quantity 1幅