Title: Goyozeiten’no Gyohitsu (Emperor Go-Yōzei Handwriting), 1586(?). An Exceptional Set of Five Brocade Bound Miniature Painting Albums, by the 107th Emperor of Japan. 74 Beautiful Pages of Paintings
Author: Attributed to Emperor Go-Yozei
Condition: Very Good
An Azuchi–Momoyama Period, late 16th century suite of five miniature painting albums, entitled Goyozeiten’no Gyohitsu, or Emperor Go-Yōzei’s Handwriting.
There are 74 beautiful pages of colorful paintings, forming 37 double paged examples, all in double paged examples. There are numerous landscapes, botanical gatherings, and animals as well, brightly produced
The paintings and calligraphy have been attributed to Emperor Go-Yōzei (1571-1617), the 107th Emperor of Japan, and rather well known for being a purveyor of the arts, as well as being a skilled calligrapher and somewhat skilled artist. Born the son of Prince Masahito, his given name was Katahito, and he was a member of the Imperial Family which resided in the Dairi of the Heian Palace. He became emperor upon the abdication of his grandfather in 1586, upon which he ascended to the throne. Under his reign, a considerable series of events would occur, including the nomination of Toyotomi Hideyoshi Daijō-daijin. From the famed Siege of Odawara Castle leading to the fall of the Hojo Clan, to the Imjin Wars of Korea, and the Battle of Sekigahara, Go-Yozei bore witness to those final critical events of the Sengoku Jidaim, only coming to a close when Tokugawa Ieyasu became shōgun on 24 March 1603, beginning the Edo Bakufu. After his own abdication, Go-Yōzei lived for six years in the Sentō Imperial Palace; and thereafter, it became the usual place to which abdicated emperors would retire.
One of the volumes bears the following dated inscription and signature, as roughly follows:
Emperor Goyozei.
1586, the Tensho Era.
The weather was auspicious, and the sound of the bells ringing in the golden tearoom welcomed Hideyoshi with a tea ceremony.
Rikyu, who had submitted the name of Shunryo, was also present.
Rather intriguingly, the manuscript mentions the Golden Tea Room, the portable gilded chashitsu constructed during the late 16th century Azuchi–Momoyama period for Lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi's tea ceremonies. The Team Room traveled to wherever Hidiyoshi went, even during the Imjin Wars, and was therefore probably also used in Fushimi Castle and the Jurakudai residence before it was ultimately lost.
There are several other inscriptions, though likely just waka poetry.
In comparing to objects 07404, 07399, and 07398 held at the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, we can see some structural similarities in the calligraphy, compared to our example, though the Museum examples are of considerable larger format. The signed name of Emperor Goyozei also corresponds with several existing examples.
All five painting albums have been beautifully bound in contemporary brocade fabrics, with bright and colorful square patterns repeating, with several other designs of flowers and birds. The albums are further enclosed in a brocade wallet of similar design and fabric, and is stored in a wooden box, preserving the contents
Five miniature brocade bound painting albums in 64mo (9.1 x 6.7 cm), 5, 7, 7, 6, 7 leaves
These manuscripts are in very good shape, with minor fabric fraying to the brocade covers, though heavier to the spine of the brocade wallet. There is browning throughout, with one leaf partially degrading and developing a cracked hole, with some painting loss.