Tanzaku by Sanjonishi Sanetaka 三条西実隆筆短冊サンジョウニシサネタカヒツタンザク

Description

Sanjonishi Sanetaka (1455-1537) was born the second son of Minister of the Center, Sanjonishi Kinyasu. He closely served three reigning emperors, i.e., GoTsuchimikado, GoKashiwabara, and GoNara. He was given the title of Senior Second Rank and eventually became Minister of the Center. Thoroughly versed in Chinese prose and poetry and Japanese literature, ancient anecdotes, and manners and etiquette, he contributed to the rise of academism favoring local flavor during medieval Japan. He studied the art of waka composition under Asukai Masachika (1417-90) and later exhibited wide-ranging talent. He also received oral instructions about the secret interpretations of the Kokin Wakashu (Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems) from Iio Sogi (1412-1502). Sanetaka and Botanka Shohaku (1443-1527) were fellow disciples, and Takeno Jo-oh (1502-55) was Sanetaka’s student. As a trained calligrapher, Sanetaka established his own style, named the Sanjo-In School (also Shoyo-In School) and attracted a large number of followers. He left behind The Diary of Lord Sanetaka and a private anthology, Setsugyoku Shu (lit. “Collection of Snowy Gems”). He retired to pursue Buddhism at age 62 (1516) and adopted the pseudonym “Shoyo-In Gyoku”.The exhibit “Last of Spring” poem is signed “Gyoku”. Although this Buddhist name should have been used after Sanetaka became a monk, he used it freely in the October 4th entry (1484) of his diary, when he was only 30 years of age. This means that one cannot determine the date of tanzaku using the poet’s signature as a clue. However, from the deeply impressive brushwork achieved by contrasting shades of Indian ink and by the steadfast movement of the brush, one can safely assume that this tanzaku was written in old age.