細川幽斎像（模本） /

Yusai Hosokawa

Military commander and man of letters from the last days of the Sengoku period to the first days of the early modern period. Built the foundation of the daimyo family called the Hosokawa clan and also was of his era’s foremost men of culture.

1534–1610

Military commander and man of letters from the last days of the Sengoku period to the first days of the early modern period. Fujitaka was his given name, Mankichi his childhood name, and Yoichiro his popular name. After taking the tonsure, he was given the name Yusai Genshi. The second son of Harukazu Mitsubuchi (1500–1570), a servant of the Muromachi shogunate. His mother was the daughter of Nobukata Kiyohara. According to one theory, he was the son of Yoshiharu Ashikaga, 12th shogun of the Muromachi shogunate. He was adopted by Mototsune Hosokawa in 1539 and had his coming-of-age ceremony in 1546. Receiving one part of the 13th shogun Yoshifuji (Yoshiteru) Ashikaga’s name — “fuji” from Yoshifuji — he was given the name Fujitaka, and following the death of his adopted father Mototsune, he inherited the headship of the Hosokawa family. Upon the assassination of shogun Yoshiteru in 1565, he gave his backing to Yoshiteru’s younger brother Kakukei Ichijoin (1537–1597), who had been cloistered in Kofuku-ji Temple and took the name Yoshiaki Ashikaga upon his return to secular life. In September 1568, Yoshiaki made his entry to Kyoto, aided by Nobunaga Oda, to become the 15th shogun. After Yoshiaki was driven from Kyoto in 1573, Fujitaka became a retainer of Nobunaga’s and was bestowed the territory of Nagaoka in Yamashiro Province, leading him to take the surname of Nagaoka for a time. Declining the invitation to join Akechi Mitsuhide on the occasion of the Incident at Honno-ji, he took the tonsure to join the Buddhist priesthood and was given the name Yusai Genshi. His position as family head he yielded to his son and legitimate heir Tadaoki (Sansai).

Later, he took part in battles including the siege of Odawara and the Bunroku campaign under the leadership of Hideyoshi Toyotomi and was besieged in Tanabe Castle in the Battle of Sekigahara as part of the Eastern army. With such experience serving under Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and Ieyasu Tokugawa, he built the foundation of the Higo-Hosokawa clan and spent the later years of his life in Kyoto, where he passed away at his home in the Sanjo district in 1610. He was given the posthumous Buddhist name Tesso Genji Taishoin and is interred at the Tenju-an subtemple at Nanzen-ji Temple (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto).

One of the era’s foremost men of culture, having studied the tea ceremony under Sen no Rikyu and the art of waka poetry under Saneki Sanjonishi, he was very well versed in a broad range of scholarly and artistic practices, including waka and renga poetry, the tea ceremony (sado), Confucianism, calligraphy (shodo), and ancient customs. Directing his energy into transcribing and collating the classics as well, he played a considerable role in handing down traditional culture and introducing it to people. Also possessed of superior skills in martial arts, he studied swordsmanship under Bokuden Tsukahara.

Particularly in the world of waka, he played a central part in literary circles from the Sengoku period (1467–1590) to the beginning of the early modern period (16th to 17th century). Joining initiates Tsuneyori To, Sogi, and Sanetaka Sanjonishi, he received the Kokin denju (secret transmissions on the Kokinshu [“Collection of Japanese Poems of Ancient and Modern Times”]) from Saneki Sanjonishi and went on to initiate others himself, including Prince Toshihito Hachijo, Michikatsu Nakanoin, Sane’eda Sanjonishi, Mitsuhiro Karasumaru, and Teitoku Matsunaga. The transmission to the Prince was succeeded by initiations of Emperor Go-Mizuno’o, Emperor Reigen, and other high-ranking members of the nobility, a form of transmission called Gosho denju (palace transmission). From Teitoku Matsunaga, the practice of jige denju (commoner transmissions) was extended to warriors and townspeople as well. In a well-known anecdote, when Yusai found himself in a desperate situation besieged in Tanabe Castle during the Battle of Sekigahara, Emperor Go-Yozei so feared that the secrets of the Kokinshu might reach their end that he issued a decree for surrender of the castle and reconciliation.

A treatise on waka poetry, Niteiki (“Accounts Deep in the Ears”), was transcribed by Mitsuhiro Karasumaru from Yusai’s oral remarks. Other works by Yusai include a personal anthology, Shumyoshu, commentaries on classic works, Eiga Taigaisho (“Notes on Teachings Regarding the Eiga Taigai [‘Fundamentals of Poetic Composition’]”) and Ise Monogatari Ketsugisho (“Doubting Commentary on Ise Monogatari [‘Tales of Ise’]”), and travel accounts Kyushu Michi no Ki (“Journal of the Kyushu Road”), Togoku-jin Michi no Ki (“Journal of the Road to Battle in the Eastern Country”). His son and legitimate heir Tadaoki (Sansai) was also a leading disciple of Sen no Rikyu, was counted as one of the Rikyu shichitetsu (seven leading disciples of Rikyu), and was married to Gracia Hosokawa.

Related People, Things and Events

Sen no Rikyu
Sen no Rikyu was a tea master from the Azuchi-Momoyama era. He developed and perfected the tradition of Wabi-cha.
Karasuma Mitsuhiro
An aristocrat of the early modern period who was also a poet, a skilled writer, and an accomplished calligrapher
Nobunaga Oda
Nobunaga Oda was a Busho (military commander) of the Sengoku and Azuchi-momoyama eras. In spite of his aspiration to unify Japan, he took his own life during an attack by his subordinate, Mitsuhide Akechi, while staying at Honnoji Temple.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
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Tokugawa Ieyasu
The life of the man who laid the foundation for the Edo Shogunate
Kokin waka shu (Collection of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poetry)
Japan's first imperial anthology of Japanese poetry, completed early in the Heian period
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji)
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Ise monogatari (Tales of Ise)
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Hyakunin Isshu(One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets)
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Cha-no-yu (Tea Ceremony)
The tea ceremony is an activity where matcha is enjoyed through the Japanese tea culture. It was developed into a composite artform, combining architecture, gardening, shodo (calligraphy), craftsmanship, philosophy, and cooking.

Books

This is an original manuscript by the court noble KARASUMARU Mitsuhiro (1579–1638), who recorded the teachings in poetry of his instructor HOSOKAWA Yūsai (1534–1610), a high-ranking general and poet who introduced medieval poetry to a wide audience in the Edo period (1603–1868), over 70 times from the eighth month of the third year of Keichō (1598) until the twelfth month of the seventh year of the same era (1602) at Tanabe Castle. The title of the manuscript, Deep in the Ear, appears at the center of the simple brown cover of the manuscript, and on the back there is “ichi ni ki” in the same handwriting. Mitsuhiro’s seal appears on the reverse side of the cover page, and the title inside the book reads: “Yusai’s lectures recorded by Mitsuhiro.” Only the cover is inscribed with hiragana script, while the back and subsequent pages are written in katakana, which could be written more quickly than hiragana. The ink color has changed and there is noticeable loss of ink and a lot of blank paper at the end, all clear indications of an original. Although Deep in the Ear is a collection of miscellaneous waka poetics arranged in an unsystematic way, it is a valuable source about Yūsai's ideas and the orthodox thought on poetry of the Sanjō-Nishike family, with whom he studied. The calligraphy of the box of this manuscript, which reads “Deep in the Ear, in the handwriting of Lord Mitsuhiro,” is thought have been inscribed by ASUKAI Masaaki (1611–79), and is consistent with the colophon by KARASUMARU Mitsumoto in the Asukai family’s own handwritten manuscript from the fifth year of the An’ei era (1776) in the Tenri Library Collection. ／ Deep in the Ear was highly valued due to the eminent reputations of HOSOKAWA Yūsai (1534–1610) and his disciple KARASUMARU Mitsuhiro (1579–1638), and many manuscripts of the text are still extant. There are also printed editions from the first year of the Kanbun era (1661), the second year of the Genroku era (1689), the fifteenth year of the same era (1702), and several unpublished printed editions. This edition is noteworthy as a rare example of a printed book on poetry related to court nobles from the early Edo period (1603–1868). It is one of many printed editions of the book that has been handed down from generation to generation, and was published with the text “Hayashi Izumi no jō edition” at the end. The preface states that common words were left unchanged, katakana was changed to hiragana for the sake of children, and quotations from poems were transcribed as complete poems instead. Also, the signature and seal found on the back of the first page of the book can be traced back to the original. At the time of publication, this edition was divided into three volumes, and the titles “volume one, two and three of Deep in the Ear,” can be found at the beginning of the books. The biggest difference between this printed edition and the original manuscript is the addition of a list of prohibited words in composing poetry, which is said to have been transcribed from an appendix by Mitsuhiro. The printed editions are displayed here as one set, so they can be compared with Mitsuhiro’s manuscript. Description from the exhibition Catalogue "Letter-scape: Century Akao Collection, A World of Letters and Figures", Keio Museum Commons, April 2021

細川幽斎の家集。寛文11（1671）飛鳥井雅章（1611－1679）編。一冊。雅章の跋によれば、幽斎の曾孫で肥後国宇土藩主細川行孝（1637－1692）がはじめ烏丸資慶（1622－1669）に依頼し、資慶の没後に雅章が引き継いだものという。書名は後水尾院の命名。掲出本は内閣文庫所蔵の江戸期の写本。

百人一首の注釈書。細川幽斎の編。宗祇による注釈（『宗祇抄』）をもとに、二条派の伝統的な注釈を集大成したもの。外題では『百人一首抄』とあるのみだが、後に広く流布し、何度か刊行もされた「幽斎抄」の一本。「于時慶長元年臘天晦日　対雪夜之寒灯、敲窓下之凍硯記之　玄旨（花押）」と記された細川幽斎の本奥書がある。

細川幽斎による『詠歌大概』の注釈書。天正14年（1586）成立。三条西実枝（さんじょうにしさねき）の講義の聞き書きで、近世期の『詠歌大概』注釈史に大きな影響を与えた。『詠歌大概』は藤原定家による歌論書。和歌の初心者に対して、和歌の本質、方法などに関する考えを簡潔に記した漢文体の部分と、103首の秀歌撰「秀歌之体大略」とからなる。掲載書は、九州大学附属図書館の細川文庫の一冊。同文庫は、細川幽斎の曽孫・細川行孝（1637−1690）を初代藩主とする字土藩細川家の蔵書で、本書は烏丸光雄（からすまみつお 1647−1690）から父烏丸資慶（からすますけよし 1622－1669）の遺品として行孝に贈られたもの。死に瀕した資慶が行孝宛に書いた書状も添えて送付され、同文庫に残されている。烏丸資慶は幽斎の嗣子忠興の娘を母としており、行孝とは従兄にあたる。同封の書き付けによれば、本書上巻の筆写は也足（中院道勝）、下巻の筆写を玄旨（幽斎）とする。

『詠歌大概聞書』下の細川幽斎筆による文禄4年（1595）の跋。直前に「天正十四年暦八月下」の跋があり、それによれば、権大納言久我敦通（こがあつみち）の再三の要望に背きがたく、三光院内大臣 (三条西実枝さんじょうにしさねき) の講釈をもとにこの『聞書』を編んだことを記している。掲出の文禄4年の跋では、この『聞書』が後陽成天皇の知るところとなって三条西実条（さんじょうにしさねえだ）を通じて天皇に進献され、上巻は宸筆で書写され、下巻も八条宮智仁親王、興意法親王によって書写されたとある。どちらの跋も幽斎自筆。

『詠歌大概聞書』と一緒に細川丹後守（行孝）に送付された烏丸光雄の書簡。｢故大納言認残候一封幷詠哥大概抄二冊（二位入道玄旨公筆）依遺命入見参候」とある。幽斎自筆の「詠哥大概抄（聞書）」2冊を「故大納言（資慶）」の遺言に従って送付する旨を伝える内容で、資慶は寛文8年（1670）11月28日死去。「故大納言認残候一封」は、死の床で行李に我が子光雄の後事を託す資慶の書状。これも宇土細川家に伝来している。本状の日付は二月十五日。烏丸光雄は「烏丸宰相」と署名するが、光雄が右大弁から参議（宰相）となったのが寛文9年11月26日なので、本状は烏丸資慶死去から間もない、翌寛文10年2月15日に執筆されたことがわかる。

細川幽斎の『伊勢物語』注釈書。幽斎が八条宮智仁親王に講釈をするために作った草稿をもとに再編集したもの。古活字本として出版もされた。本書は古活字版の中でも最も古い十行本、全５冊。「御幸町通二条　仁右衛門　活板之」と版元の記載がある。日本古典籍の蒐集家で知られたフランク・ホーレーの旧蔵書。「寶玲文庫」の印がある。

天正19年5月27日に興行された「賦何色連歌」の写し。玄仍の発句「夕立は空より庭にいつみ哉」に対して幽斎（玄旨法印）が「茂る木の間の松風のこゑ」の脇を付けている。

Related Works

楮紙の折紙に書かれており、裁断後に上下を反転させて軸装に仕立てられている。本紙の右上は補紙となっている。二紙の題簽のうち、一紙に「仮名消息ゆうさい名アリ己巳十一『神田道伴』（印）」とあり、古筆鑑定家の神田道伴の目にかかったもの。欠損が激しく、一部判読しにくい。

Hosokawa Yusai (1534-1610) was a daimyo (warlord; landed general) and tea aficionado of the Momoyama Period. Born to Mibuchi Harukazu, he was originally named Fujitaka. Yusai and Genshi were his pen names. Yusai was later adopted by Hosokawa Mototsune and served Ashikaga Yoshiharu. When Yoshiaki’s brother, Ashikaga Yoshihide, passed away, Yusai planned to institute Yoshiaki to be the next shogun. He later sided with General Oda Nobunaga and was given a fief in Nagaoka and Tango provinces (both are currently located in Kyoto). But when the coup d’etat broke out at Honnoji Temple (Nobunaga was murdered by his vassal Akechi Mitsuhide), Yusai and his son Tadaoki shaved off their hair, a gesture of innocence and neutrality. Thereafter, he followed Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and then was given an important post by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa military government. Yusai was a learned scholar both in Japanese classics and Chinese prose and had a prominent position in waka and renga poetry, as well as the art of tea. He was one of the most highly trained intellectual minds of the era. In this letter, he mentions that the tea presented him by the tea dealer Kambayashi of Uji was excellent. It is addressed to Kambayashi Nyudo, most likely Kambayashi Hisamochi (1542-1606), who supervised all the tea dealers of Uji in those days. (Tea contests were favorite pursuits among connoisseurs. Participants tried to identify the growing area – whether it was from Toganowo or not – of a particular tea or name the tea manufacturer from the taste, aroma and color.) The strokes flow with naturalness, showing what an achieved calligrapher Yusai was.

松阪市内の旧家の伊勢神宮関係文書のうちの一通。伊勢神宮の御師、吉沢主水宛。極月17日付。吉沢主水は伊勢神宮の御師（おし、神官）。年末に際して大麻（おおぬさ、御幣）と長鮑を贈られたことに対する礼状。

Karasumaru Mitsuhiro (1579-1638) was a court noble and a poet, who, from boyhood, was hailed as a talented calligrapher. Not only that, but at the young age of 11, he was appointed Junior Officer of the Right and later climbed to the post of Major Counselor. At first, he was trained in the Jimyo-In School of calligraphy, but was later influenced by the Koetsu Style, while also being attracted to Jodai-yo (the classical style). As an achieved calligrapher, he was likened to the renowned ‘Three Brushes of the Kanei Era’.This letter is addressed to Hosokawa Yusai (1534-1610), with whom Mitsuhiro seems to have been exchanging correspondence concerning the Hundred Poetry Party and Nijo Castle Poetry Party. Mitsuhiro was Yusai’s student in the art of poetry composition. As Yusai died in 1610 at age 77, this letter was undoubtedly written before that year, and since Mitsuhiro was 32 years old when Yusai died, this letter was probably written when the talented young man was only in his late 20s or early 30s.

Hosokawa Yusai (1534-1610) was a military general of the Momoyama Period. He was born the second son of Lord Mitsubuchi Harukazu of Yamato Province. (Though, one theory puts him as the son of the 12th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiharu.) Yusai’s real name was Yoichiro, which was later changed to Fujitaka, and after becoming a monk, he adopted the religious names Yusai and Genshi. As the lord of Tanabe Castle in Tango Province (in northern Kyoto), his alliance was sought by the powerful military rulers of the era, including the Ashikagas, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the like. Thoroughly familiar with ancient manners and decorum, Chinese and Japanese classical studies, and trained directly by Sanjonishi Saneki through oral instruction on the Kokin Wakashu (Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems), the powerful Yusai played a central role in literary circles of his time, having many noted disciples of his own, including Karasumaru Mitsuhiro. He also practiced tea ceremony under the private guidance of Takeno Jo-oh and was said to have been attracted to this refined art. Among the many books he authored are his private poetry collection, the Shumyo-Shu, and the treatise Hyakunin-Isshu Sho (lit. “Comments on One Hundred Poems”). On exhibited Tanzaku, the poem is written on brilliantly decorated paper with large silver foils, small gold foils, and gold dust.

Hosokawa Yusai (1534-1610) was a military general of the Momoyama Period. He was born the second son of Lord Mitsubuchi Harukazu of Yamato Province. (Though, one theory puts him as the son of the 12th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiharu.) Yusai’s real name was Yoichiro, which was later changed to Fujitaka, and after becoming a monk, he adopted the religious names Yusai and Genshi. As the lord of Tanabe Castle in Tango Province (in northern Kyoto), his alliance was sought by the powerful military rulers of the era, including the Ashikagas, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the like. Thoroughly familiar with ancient manners and decorum, Chinese and Japanese classical studies, and trained directly by Sanjonishi Saneki through oral instruction on the Kokin Wakashu (Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems), the powerful Yusai played a central role in literary circles of his time, having many noted disciples of his own, including Karasumaru Mitsuhiro. He also practiced tea ceremony under the private guidance of Takeno Jo-oh and was said to have been attracted to this refined art. Among the many books he authored are his private poetry collection, the Shumyo-Shu, and the treatise Hyakunin-Isshu Sho (lit. “Comments on One Hundred Poems”). The poem“Prayers to the Gods” are signed “Genshi” and, as such, was written after 1582 when Yusai became a monk at age 49. This poems is included in the Shumyo-Shu. It also has a literary pretext (kotoba-gaki) which says, “On the occasion of the Lord Regent’s visit.” The Lord Regent presumably refers to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, signifying that this poem perhaps was written after 1585, when he was given an admistrative post on July 11th. Yusai’s brushwork is classified under the Eiga School and is an orthodox representation of its features.

「うくひすの梅の花かさけさきても／雪のふゝきにぬれて鳴也　玄旨」。細川幽斎が「雪中聞鴬(せっちゅううぐいすをきく）」という題で詠んだ和歌一首を記した短冊。歌の末尾に幽斎の法名「玄旨」の記載がある。

Hosokawa Yusai (1534-1610) was a military general of the Momoyama Period. He was born the second son of Lord Mitsubuchi Harukazu of Yamato Province. (Though, one theory puts him as the son of the 12th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiharu.) Yusai’s real name was Yoichiro, which was later changed to Fujitaka, and after becoming a monk, he adopted the religious names Yusai and Genshi. As the lord of Tanabe Castle in Tango Province (in northern Kyoto), his alliance was sought by the powerful military rulers of the era, including the Ashikagas, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the like. Thoroughly familiar with ancient manners and decorum, Chinese and Japanese classical studies, and trained directly by Sanjonishi Saneki through oral instruction on the Kokin Wakashu (Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems), the powerful Yusai played a central role in literary circles of his time, having many noted disciples of his own, including Karasumaru Mitsuhiro. He also practiced tea ceremony under the private guidance of Takeno Jo-oh and was said to have been attracted to this refined art. Among the many books he authored are his private poetry collection, the Shumyo-Shu, and the treatise Hyakunin-Isshu Sho (lit. “Comments on One Hundred Poems”). This poem “Drizzle in a Distant Village” is signed “Genshi” and, as such, was written after 1582 when Yusai became a monk at age 49. This poem is included in the Shumyo-Shu.

「河島　塩みてはおき（沖）つすとり（巣鳥）のつはさ（翅）をも／又かはしまのかた（潟）に鳴なり　玄旨」。

Portrait of Hosokawa Yusai, etc.

細川幽斎夫妻像（『国史大図鑑』第3巻所収）

幽斎夫妻の老後の肖像。大徳寺塔頭の高桐院所蔵。

Portrait of Hosokawa Tadaoki

細川幽斎の長子、細川忠興（ほそかわただおき、1563-1645）の肖像画。織田信長に重用され、信長の子信忠の１字を与えられ忠興と名乗り、明智光秀のむすめ玉（のちのガラシャ）と結婚。本能寺の変では光秀に与せず、以後は豊臣秀吉に従った。秀吉亡き後は、徳川家康に仕え、関ヶ原の軍功によって豊前国が与えられた。のちに出家剃髪して三斎宗立。当時屈指の文化人として聞こえ、鷹狩・能・和歌・連歌を好み、茶の湯を千利休に学び、利休七哲のひとりに数えらる。

落合芳幾　音川兵部大輔藤孝（「太平記英勇伝」所収）

落合芳幾（おちあいよしいく、1833−1904）のシリーズ武者絵「太平記英雄伝」に描かれた細川幽斎。「音川兵部大輔藤孝」として描かれている。「太平記英雄伝」は、『絵本太閤記』に取材した揃い物で、戯作者・山々亭有人（条野採菊）による略伝が記されている。　

Past Exhibitions

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Institutions and External Links

永青文庫の名宝
永青文庫の所蔵する、国宝８件、重要文化財35件をふくむ、およそ6,000点の美術工芸品と88,000点の歴史文書の中から選りすぐりの名品を紹介する。「永青文庫」は、かつて熊本藩主であった細川家に伝来した美術品や文学作品の写本、古文書・古記録等を所有・管理する財団。
永青文庫研究センター
永青文庫資料をはじめとする熊本藩関係資料の総合的な資料に立脚した熊本大学の研究拠点。「永青文庫」は、かつて熊本藩主であった細川家に伝来した美術品や文学作品の写本、古文書・古記録等を所有・管理する財団。

References

『日本大百科全書（ニッポニカ）』（JapanKnowledge）「細川幽斎」の項
『改訂新版世界大百科事典』（JapanKnowledge）「細川幽斎」の項
『国史大辞典』（JapanKnowledge）「細川幽斎」の項
酒井茂幸「後陽成天皇の収書活動について」　　
中村幸彦「細川文庫について」（『図書館情報』3 (8)、1967、九州大学附属図書館）
JapanKnowledge所収コンテンツの最終アクセス日は、いずれも2023/02/10。

Related People, Things and Events

Books

Jiteiki

衆妙集

百人一首抄

詠歌大概聞書 上

詠歌大概聞書 下・跋

細川行孝宛 烏丸資慶書簡

伊勢物語闕疑抄

連歌写 天正19年5月27日「賦何色連歌」

Related Works

細川幽斎仮名書状

Letter by Hosokawa Yusai

吉沢主水宛 幽斎玄旨書状

Letter by Karasumaru Mitsuhiro

Waka Kaishi by Hosokawa Yusai

Draft Kaishi by Hosokawa Yusai

Linked Verse Kaishi by Hosokawa Yusai

Tanzaku by Hosokawa Yusai

Tanzaku by Hosokawa Yusai

Poem: Listening to Bush Warblers in the Snow

Tanzaku by Hosokawa Yusai

Poem on Tanzaku paper

Portrait of Hosokawa Yusai, etc.

Past Exhibitions

Institutions and External Links

References