Illustrated Handscrolls of the Life of the Buddhist Monk Saigyō
- Person
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Calligraphy byKARASUMARU Mitsuhiro
- Date
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制作年 Early Edo period（17th century)
- Title
- サイギョウホウシギョウジョウエマキ
- Measurements
- H. 32.8
- Materials, techniques and shape
- colour on paper
- Collections
- Century Akao Collection
- Depository
- Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) Campus Mita
This illustrated handscroll depicts the life of the poet Saigyō from the time he became a buddhist monk until his death. The varying extant texts of the tale can be divided into four different kinds of manuscripts: The Kohon, the Ryakubon, the Uneme, and the Eisho-Kan’ei lineage. This one is part of the Uneme lineage. At the end of the scroll, there is an inscription by Sanjō Kin'atsu (1439–1507) from the 9th year of the Meiō era (1500), which states that Kaida-Uneme no suke Sukeyasu painted the images and that the calligraphy was copied by Kin’atsu based on an original manuscript that was passed down at the imperial court, the so-called Imperial Palace Copy.
Only in the second volume, KARASUMARU Mitsuhiro (1579–1638) applies his own style of calligraphy.
It is interesting to note the differences between this work and two other versions of the story painted by TAWARAYA Sōtatsu (dates unknown) by Mitsuhiro’s order. One of these versions used to be owned by the Mōri family and is now part of the collection of the Idemitsu Museum of Art, and the other from the Watanabe family is currently held at the Agency for Cultural affairs. While Sōtatsu applied his characteristic way of depicting the shapes of clothes and tarashikomi (paint dripping) technique, this version is said to be faithful copies of the Imperial Palace Copy. Indeed, in the scene where Saigyō worships at Nachi Falls, the vivid mountains in blue and green, and the composition of the waterfalls pouring down vertically are powerful and bring to mind the Muromachi-period (1336–1573) original.
Description from the exhibition Catalogue "Letter-scape: Century Akao Collection, A World of Letters and Figures", Keio Museum Commons, April 2021
Poet-priest Saigyo (1118-1190) was originally a palace guard for the retired Emperor Toba (1103-1156) and was assigned to defend the northern territories. However, he became a Buddhist seeker at age 23, giving up his samurai status, and traveled across Japan. In his lifetime, Priest Saigyo gained a reputation as a wandering poet. His artistic talent is evident, and he is one of the most representative poets of the New Collection of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poems (Jp: Shin Kokin Wakashu). His fame survived his death, and many biographies, collectively known as The Tales of Saigyo (Jp: Saigyo Monogatari), were produced. Later, many illustrated versions were published. The oldest extant copy is the Illustrated Biography of Priest Saigyo, a two-volume edition preserved at the Tokugawa Reimeikai and by the Manno family. This book is believed to date back to the 13th century Kamakura Period. The calligrapher of the preface of that famous edition is believed to be Fujiwara-no-Tameie (1198-1275), and the illustrations were attributed to Tosa Tsunetaka (years of birth and death unknown).Later, during the Meio Era (1500), a four-volume illustrated scroll was created by the painter Kaida Sukeyasu (years of birth and death unknown). Although the original Kaida work has now been lost, many of its reproductions have survived to this day. Out of these later copies, two versions were made in September 1630 by Karasumaru Mitsuhiro (1579-1638), who had borrowed the original Kaida version from the imperial court. In these surviving two copies, Mitsuhiro wrote the text himself and had Tawaraya Sotatsu (years of birth and death unknown), one of the most well-known Japanese-style painters of the day, illustrate the narrative. These copies are preserved at the Idemitsu Museum (originally in the Private Mohri family collection) and by the Watanabe family. However, in these two copies, Sotatsu’s illustrations show much of his own style, without being very loyal to the Kaida original. Conversely, the exhibited Century Museum version is noted for being a loyal reproduction of the Kaida original down to every detail. However, only the preface to Volume II shows Mitsuhiro’s original handwriting, a testimony that this famous calligrapher had a special penchant for the illustrated tales of Priest Saigyo.The exhibited four-volume illustrated text begins with a preface that describes the vicissitudes of the present world and the attainment of enlightenment through devotion to Buddhism. Altogether, the four-volume scroll depicts 57 scenes in Saigyo’s life, ending with a scene in which people are mourning his death.
［奥書釈文］ 「右此四巻画図者／海田采女佑源相保／所筆也段々文字乃愚翁書焉／明応竜集庚申上陽月中浣日／槐下桑門」
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- Title (EN)
- Illustrated Handscrolls of the Life of the Buddhist Monk Saigyō
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- Weights and quantities
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Quantity 4巻
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