Title: Calligraphy Attributed to Tokugawa Mitsukuni, Daimyo of Mito, Circa 1650-1700. Written by the Grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu
Author: Attributed to Tokugawa Mitsukuni
Condition: Very Good
An Early Edo Period, mid to late 17th century example of fine calligraphy, the authorship attributed to Tokugawa Mitsukuni (1628-1701). Serving as Lord of the Mito Domain in Hitachi Province during the early Edo period, Mitsukuni was the third son of Yorifusa, and thusly, grandson to Ieyasu, Shogun of Japan, and founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate which lasted up to the Bakumatsu and Meiji Restoration.
An influential figure of Edo Politics, he worked hard to govern the people and valued Confucianism principles, being a scholarly individual as well. He was noted for the creation and publication of the Dai Nihon shi (“History of Great Japan”), a comprehensive rewriting of Japanese history modelled after the great Chinese dynastic histories. He also invited the major Confucian scholar Zhu Zhiyu to his domain, whose critical support helped to establish the foundation of the Mitogaku school of Japanese historical and Shinto studies.
The calligraphy has been neatly mounted onto a kakejiku (hanging scroll), with jikusaki (knobs) made of lacquered wood.
One page of calligraphy mounted on a kakejiku (hanging scroll), full size 113 x 52 cm, 34 x 48 cm main paper
This manuscript is in very good shape, with minor staining and wear to the paper, with several, very small holes having developed, though the text is largely unaffected.