Two Volumes of "Chifu Sekki" and Accompanying Material "Portrait of Higashizono Motokazu"
2022/04/12
The Kohitsu family was a lineage of professional handwriting appraisers. They were involved in the appraisal of ancient calligraphy and the creation of "kohitsugire" (calligraphy fragments), which were made by cutting damaged books and repurposing them as works of art. The Century Akao Collection contains a vast amount of materials and records accumulated by the Kohitsu family throughout 300 years of activity, from the early Edo period to the Showa era. Currently, Professor Takahiro Sasaki and others are organizing these materials at the Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko), and their academic value is immeasurable. From this collection, we would like to introduce unique materials that were actually used by the Kohitsu family.
"Chifu Sekki" is a collection of genealogies of court nobles that was frequently referenced until the modern era. The handwriting from the 4th year of Ansei (1857) inscribed at the end of the second volume is believed to be by Ryoetsu (1831–94), the 12th generation of the Kohitsu family. Its well-worn appearance suggests it was a favorite tool used during his appraisal activities. Additionally, a portrait of the court noble Higashizono Motokazu (1653–1710) is tucked inside as a bookmark. The portrait shows Motokazu in ceremonial dress when he attended the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Higashiyama (1687), making it a valuable document related to the ritual. During the Edo period, a culture of appraisal flourished in various fields. The Kohitsu family materials also include the "Gain Inkan-fu," a collection of seals and signatures of painters and other artists.
During the Edo period, the appraisal of paintings was led by the Kano family, but according to these materials, by Ryoetsu's time, the Kohitsu family also seems to have taken on the appraisal of paintings. In the entry for Kano Tan'yu, a certificate of authenticity (kiwafuda) created by Tan'yu was inserted. This shows that the members of the Kohitsu family viewed the Kano school with the interest of fellow professionals.
Identifying the authors of old calligraphy and paintings is difficult, and the results of an appraisal are not always the truth. However, appraisal results follow rules based on the appraiser's research, allowing us to read the perspectives of the past. Furthermore, the copies (mohon) accumulated during their professional duties inform us of the existence of calligraphy and paintings that no longer exist today. By gaining a deep understanding of appraisal culture, we can vividly recall the rich activities surrounding calligraphy and paintings in the Edo period. The materials introduced here will be exhibited at the Keio Museum Commons spring exhibition.
(Fumi Matsutani, Keio Museum Commons)
*Affiliations and titles are those at the time of publication.