Volume 2 of Collection of Japanese Poems Ancient and Modern (Gen'ei-Era Version)
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Volume 2 of Collection of Japanese Poems Ancient and Modern (Gen'ei-Era Version) (detail), Heian period, 12th century (National Treasure, Gift of Mr. Mitsui Takahiro)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2
October 16, 2024 (Wed) - November 17, 2024 (Sun)Members of the imperial family and nobility composed poetry called waka to express their cultural refinement. Published in the early 900s, the Collection of Japanese Poems Ancient and Modern was Japan’s first imperial collection of waka poetry. While the original version no longer exists, the Museum holds the oldest complete copy, created in two volumes in the 1100s. Volume two is displayed here.
The paper is painstakingly decorated, suggesting that this copy was a luxury gift from one noble to another. It is coated with a pigment made from powdered seashells and embellished with patterns using stencils and mica dust. Scholars believe that the poetry was transcribed by the nobleman and master calligrapher Fujiwara no Sadazane (before 1077–after 1119), whose flowing script contrasts beautifully with the decorated paper.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | National Treasure | Volume 2 of "Collection of Japanese Poems Ancient and Modern" (Gen'ei-Era Version) | Heian period, 12th century | Gift of Mr. Mitsui Takahiro, B-2814-2 |