Emperor Go-Sai Imperial Handwriting (Shinkan) — Waka on Kaishi Paper(Theme: Spring Animals)

Shinkan refers to calligraphy personally written by an emperor. This work features a waka composed by Emperor Go-Sai under the theme of spring animals written by the emperor himself on kaishi, a sheet of paper carried in the front fold of a garment. The date of composition is unknown. Emperor Go-Sai, the seventh son of Emperor Go-Mizunoo, ascended the throne following the sudden death of his elder brother, Emperor Go-Kōmyō, and served as an interim sovereign until the accession of Emperor Reigen. This work was handed down within the Takamatsu Matsudaira family and is thought to have been bestowed in connection with the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Go-Sai in 1656 (Meireki 2), which Matsudaira Yorishige, the first head of the Takamatsu Matsudaira family, attended as the shogunate’s representative. It is one of several works that attest to the close ties between the imperial court and the Takamatsu Matsudaira family during this period.