Emperor Go-Yōzei Imperial Handwriting (Shinkan) — Letter
- Artist
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Emperor Go-Yōzei (1571–1617)
- Period
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Azuchi-Momoyama period, late 16th–early 17th century
- Quality and quantity
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Ink on paper, one hanging scroll
- Size (cm)
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H 16.0 × W 42.4
- Category
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Calligraphy
- Classification
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Important art object
- Accession number
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MY0#00008
Description
This letter requests the correction of the opening verse (hokku) of a renga sequence, a poetic practice in which participants alternately compose upper and lower verses. It is regarded as an imperial autograph (shinkan) by Emperor Go-Yōzei. The addressee, Sanden, is thought to be three senior monks of the Bishamondō temple with whom the emperor was on familiar terms.
Next to the proposed verse, “Kesa so min / shimo o mitori no / hora no matsu” (“This morning I shall look upon the frost on the hollow green pine”), the emperor added the alternative, “Sakafuru ya / shimo ni,” and asked which wording would be preferable.
Emperor Go-Yōzei was the eldest son of Prince Sanehito, son of Emperor Ōgimachi. He ascended to the throne in 1586 (Tenshō 14). He was renowned for his scholarship in the field of Japanese and Chinese classical studies.
The piece was later presented by the Mito Tokugawa family to Matsudaira Yorishige, the first head of the Takamatsu Matsudaira family.