Letter by Sanjonishi Sanetaka 三条西実隆筆消息サンジョウニシサネタカヒツショウソク

Description

Muromachi nobleman Sanjonishi Sanetaka (1455-1537) was a famed man of culture with the highest academic and cultural achievements of the time. He was born as the second son to the Minister of the Center Kinyasu, but his elder brother Sanetsura died young, so he succeeded to the family headship at the age of 4. At this time, his birth name of Kinsei was changed to Kin-nobu, but that name was later changed to Sanetaka upon his coming of age. He continually climbed the administrative ranks and, in 1506, was appointed the Minister of the Center. Thoroughly familiar with both Chinese and Japanese classics and traditional ways and manners, he devoted himself to the research of ancient literary masterpieces like the Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji). Succeeding to Ichijo Kaneyoshi (also pronounced as Kanera; 1402-81), Sanjonishi Sanetaka was instrumental in kindling renewed interest for Japanese studies during the Middle Ages of Japan. In waka poetry composition, Sanetaka received private coaching and oral instructions in the secrets of the form from Iio Sogi (1421-1502) and To-no-Tsuneyori (1401-?), thereupon developing his literary talents to their fullest. He and Botanka Shohaku (1443-1527) studied together under the same master. Takeno Jo-ou (1502-55), famed in the chanoyu tea ceremony, was Sanetaka’s disciple. The multi-talented Sanetaka was also an achieved calligrapher. Later called the Sanjo School or Shoyo-in School, his style of calligraphy had many followers. His personal diary, Sanetaka Koki (lit. Lord Sanetaka’s Diary), offers an important glimpse into the history of the latter Muromachi Period. This letter is signed “Sanetaka” with the first kanji character written in hiragana, so it could have been written before his retreat into a Buddhist temple on April 13, 1516. Since it is written in hiragana, it is most likely addressed to Emperor Goｋashiwabara, but through the chief lady-in-waiting. Sanetaka gives thanks for the folding fan he received as a gift, which had a handwritten poem by the emperor and also expresses happiness that the ryoshi paper he procured to make a cover of a book pleased his Imperial Highness. In those days, senders signed their hiragana letters with the first character of their name written in hiragana characters.