Two Large Characters of “Pine Tree Promise” by Motoori Norinaga
- Person
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作者本居宣長
- Date
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制作年 AD18
- Title
- モトオリノリナガヒツショウケイニダイジ
- Collections
- Century Akao Collection
- Depository
- Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) Campus Mita
- Ref. number
- AW-CEN-001517-0000
- 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
- Handwriting Font Art Writing Ink
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. The exhibited two characters read as “the pine tree promise.” The evergreen pine tree is a symbol of lasting friendship. Could it be that Norinaga wrote this piece for a close friend? Among the many brushworks left by this Japanology scholar, the exhibited piece is particularly known for its classical elegance.
The pine tree promise. Norinaga
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- Title (EN)
- Two Large Characters of “Pine Tree Promise” by Motoori Norinaga
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