Title: Illustrated Manuscript of Cooking and Landscapes, with a Pair of Kappa, Circa 1850-1880 (Late Edo to Early Meiji). With Poetic Commentary by the Female Nun Otagaki Rengetsu
Author: Otagaki Rengetsu; Unknown Copyist
Condition: Very Good
A mid to late 19th century illustrated food manuscript, with depictions of various meals, prepared fish, and ceramics, as well as some natural landscapes, and flowers. There are 28 pages of illustrations throughout, as well as one full page illustration of a pair of kappa.
The manuscript is also accompanied by poetic commentary, which appears to be by the potter, painter, and calligraphy Otagaki Rengetsu, a Buddhist Nun.
A poet from the late Edo period and Meiji period, her name was Makoto, with the pen name of Rengetsu. She studied waka poetry under Chigusa Ariyoshi and was also skilled in martial arts. After the death of her husband, she entered the school of Shinkoin Gesshin and became a nun. She admired Ozawa Rosan and Rokuninbe Koreka, mentored the young Tomioka Tessai, and became friends with Yori Mikisaburo, Yanagawa Seigan, and Umeda Unpin. She also made pottery known as Rengetsuki Ware, in which she carved her own poems into hand-kneaded tea utensils. She died in 1875 at the age of 85.
Although some of the poetry appears to be by her, it does not display her expert calligraphy and is by an unnamed copyist. Possibly a student or admirer of her work.
One volume in oblong octavo (12.5 x 18cm), 27 inscribed pages of hand-colored illustrations and poetry.
This manuscript is in very good shape, with minor rubbing and wear to the binding. There is very light, scattered foxing throughout.