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Hon'ami Koetsu

One of the most outstanding artists of the Momoyama and early Edo periods who produced masterful calligraphy, lacquerware, and ceramics 1558-1637

Hon'ami Koetsu, of Kyoto, was an artist of the Momoyama and early Edo periods. He signed his works using the names Taikyoan, Jitokusai, and Tokuyusai, among others. He was born into a branch of the Hon'ami family, well-to-do urban dwellers engaged in sharpening, cleaning, and appraising swords. A master of calligraphy, ceramics, and lacquerware, he occupies an important place in artistic crafts of the early modern period.

 

In the area of calligraphy, he broke new ground by skillfully blending thick and thin characters so as to emphasize the text's intonation, thus using his brush to accent parts of a text. One can see his calligraphy on many works of poetry on scrolls or colored paper made during the Keicho era (1596-1615), such as the important cultural property Tsuru zu shitae waka kan (Waka Poetry on Cranes) and Hasu shitae waka kan (Waka Poetry on Lotus). In both works Koetsu's calligraphy appears on a background painting by Tawaraya Sotatsu.

 

In addition, he also left his mark on hundreds of Buddhist documents and documents of state bearing his calligraphy—works such as the important cultural property Rissho ankoku ron (Establishing the Right and Bringing Peace to the Nation) and Wakan roei shu (Collection of Japanese and Chinese Poems for Reciting). He also helped to produce Saga-bon (The Book of Saga), published by Suminokura Soan. Also, on block copy for Ise monogatari (Tales of Ise), Tsurezuregusa (Essays in Idleness), and Kanze-ryu utaibon (Book for Chanting in the Kanze Style [Kanze being a school of Noh]), one can see the note "In the style of Koetsu."

 

In 1615 he received a parcel of land on Takagamine north of Kyoto from the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and moved there. From this time he began making ceramics in earnest. Koetsu and two members of the Raku family—Jokei, the second generation, and Donyu, the third generation—made quite a few masterful Raku tea bowls, including the important cultural property Seppo (Snow Peaks), the important cultural property Amagumo (Rain Clouds), Oto gozen (Noh mask of a plump woman), Kaga Koetsu, and the national treasure Fuji-san (Mount Fuji).

 

Moreover, while it cannot be conclusively shown that Koetsu actually made the maki-e (gold or silver lacquerware) associated with him, works such as the national treasure Funabashi maki-e suzuribako (Writing Box with Pontoon Bridge) and the important cultural property Shofu maki-e suzuribako (Writing Box with Woodcutter) possess novel designs taking themes from classical literature and a certain charm, both suggesting that he was involved in some way in their manufacture.

 

There are two books that give considerable biographical information about Koetsu. One is Hon'ami gyojo ki (Annals of the Hon'ami Family), which gathers the sayings and deeds of the Hon'ami clan, principally Hon'ami Koetsu. The other is Nigiwaigusa (Musings on Prosperity), a collection of miscellaneous writings by Haiya Shoeki, who lived nearby Koetsu from his childhood. This work gives a vivid picture of Koetsu in his late years.

Related People, Things and Events

Books

Kouetsu utaibon (“Koetsu Book of Librettos”)

Related Works

Koetsu in waka poetry scrolls

Letters by Koetsu

Maki-e, etc., by Koetsu

Past Exhibitions

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Institutions Holding Related Materials

  • As Japan’s representative museum, Tokyo National Museum collects, preserves, displays, and researches the cultural properties of Asia with a focus on Japan, and also provides educational programs.

  • 茶道具を中心に、書画、陶磁、漆芸、能装束など、日本、中国、朝鮮の古美術品を展示公開している私立美術館。本阿弥光悦の「四季草花下絵古今集和歌巻」、赤楽茶碗「雪峯」「李白」などを所蔵する。

  • 光悦の屋敷であったが、彼の死後、寺が建立された。所在地は京都市北区。

  • 東洋の古美術に、西洋近現代絵画を加えた600点あまりの作品を収蔵するする美術館。本阿弥光悦作の国宝・白楽茶碗「不二山」を所蔵する。

  • 光悦作の楽茶碗を含む樂家に伝わった作品を収蔵する。

  • 国立国会図書館による電子展示。琳派のルーツとして、本阿弥光悦が紹介されている。

  • 2018.06.08から2018.07.17まで静岡県熱海市のMOA美術館で開催された展覧会「琳派−光悦と光琳」の解説ページ。

  • 印刷博物館による、嵯峨本『伊勢物語』の電子展示。

External Links

References

  1. 林屋辰三郎 等[編],第一法規出版
  2. 波多野幸彦 著,思文閣出版
  3. 増田孝 著,東京堂出版
  4. 至文堂 編,国立文化財機構 監修,ぎょうせい
  5. 「本阿弥光悦」の項。
  6. 「本阿弥光悦」の項。
  7. 「本阿弥光悦」の項。