Two Volumes of "Chifu Sekki" and Accompanying Material "Portrait of Higashizono Motokazu"
The Kohitsu family was a lineage that served as professional appraisers of handwriting for generations. They were involved in the appraisal of ancient calligraphy and the creation of "kohitsugire" (calligraphy fragments), which were produced 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, organization work is underway at the Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko), led by Professor Takahiro Sasaki, and its academic value is immeasurable. From this collection, we will 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 at the end of the second volume, dated the 4th year of Ansei (1857), is believed to be by Ryotsu (1831–94), the 12th generation of the Kohitsu family. Its worn appearance suggests it was a favorite tool used during appraisal activities. Additionally, a portrait of the court noble Higashizono Motokazu (1653–1710) is tucked inside as a bookmark. The portrait shows Motokazu in formal attire when he attended the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Higashiyama (1687), making it a valuable document related to the ritual. During the Edo period, appraisal culture flourished in various fields. The Kohitsu family materials also include the "Gain Inkan-fu," a collection of seals and signatures of painters and others.
During the Edo period, the appraisal of paintings was primarily led by the Kano family, but according to these materials, it appears that by Ryotsu's time, the Kohitsu family was also involved in painting appraisal. In the entry for Kano Tan'yu, an appraisal certificate (kiwafuda) created by Tan'yu was found tucked inside. This shows that the members of the Kohitsu family held a professional interest in the Kano school as fellow practitioners.
Identifying the authors of ancient calligraphy and paintings is difficult, and the results of an appraisal are not necessarily the absolute truth. However, appraisal results follow rules based on the appraiser's research, allowing us to interpret the perspectives of the past. Furthermore, the copies and sketches accumulated during their duties inform us of the existence of calligraphy and paintings that no longer exist today. By deepening our understanding of appraisal culture, we can vividly recall the rich activities surrounding calligraphy and painting 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.