Sanpitsu
Encyclopedia
The term Sanpitsu or "three brushes" is used in Japanese to refer to a group of three famous Heian period
calligraphers:
A later group of calligraphers named in imitation of the original Sanpitsu are Kan'ei Sanpitsu (寛永三筆) named for the Kan'ei period in which they flourished:
Yet another group named in this fashion are the Zen Chinese calligraphers who worked in Japan known as the Obaku no Sanpitsu
(黄檗三筆):
Since this time, the term sanpitsu has been used to designate other groups of renowned calligraphers in groups of three: Bakumatsu no Sanpitsu, Meiji
no Sanpitsu and Shōwa
no Sanpitsu.
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
calligraphers:
- Emperor SagaEmperor Sagawas the 52nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Saga's reign spanned the years from 809 through 823.-Traditional narrative:...
嵯峨天皇, 786–842. - KūkaiKukaiKūkai , also known posthumously as , 774–835, was a Japanese monk, civil servant, scholar, poet, and artist, founder of the Shingon or "True Word" school of Buddhism. Shingon followers usually refer to him by the honorific titles of and ....
空海, 774–835. - Tachibana no HayanariTachibana no Hayanariwas a Heian period Japanese government official, calligrapher, and member of the Tachibana family. He travelled to China in 804, returning in 806. He died while traveling to exile in Izu Province for supposed participation in an imperial succession controversy. His most famous remaining...
, 橘逸勢 c. 782-842.
A later group of calligraphers named in imitation of the original Sanpitsu are Kan'ei Sanpitsu (寛永三筆) named for the Kan'ei period in which they flourished:
- Honami KōetsuHonami Koetsuwas a Japanese craftsman, potter, lacquerer, and calligrapher, whose work is generally considered to have inspired the founding of the Rinpa school of painting.-Early life:...
本阿弥光悦, 1558-1637 - Konoe NobutadaKonoe Nobutadawas a Momoyama period Japanese courtier known as a poet, calligrapher, painter and diarist. Having no legitimate son, he adopted his nephew Nobuhiro as his heir...
近衛信尹, 1565-1614 - Shōkadō ShōjōShōkadō ShōjōShōkadō Shōjō was an Edo period Buddhist monk, painter, calligrapher and master of the tea ceremony. He is one of the .Shōjō is the Buddhist name the youth was given when he entered the Hachiman shrine on Otoko-yama near Kyoto. He later served the Konoe family under Konoe Nobutada. At that time...
松花堂昭乗, 1584-1639
Yet another group named in this fashion are the Zen Chinese calligraphers who worked in Japan known as the Obaku no Sanpitsu
Obaku no Sanpitsu
is a name given to a group of three famous Chinese calligraphers who lived in Japan:* Ingen Ryūki, 隱元隆琦 1592-1673* Mokuan Shōtō,木庵性瑫 1611-1684* Sokuhi Nyoitsu, 即非如一 1616-1671...
(黄檗三筆):
- Ingen RyūkiIngenIngen Ryūki was a Chinese Linji Chán Buddhist monk, poet, and calligrapher....
, 隱元隆琦 1592-1673 - Mokuan ShōtōMuyanMuyan was a Chinese Chan monk who followed his master Yinyuan Longqi to Japan in 1654....
,木庵性瑫 1611-1684 - Sokuhi NyoitsuSokuhi Nyoitsuwas a Buddhist monk of the Obaku Zen sect, and was also an accomplished poet and calligrapher. His teacher Ingen Ryūki, Mokuan Shōtō and Sokuhi were together known as the "Three Brushes of Ōbaku" or Ōbaku no Sanpitsu.-China:...
, 即非如一 1616-1671
Since this time, the term sanpitsu has been used to designate other groups of renowned calligraphers in groups of three: Bakumatsu no Sanpitsu, Meiji
Meiji
Meiji may refer to:* Meiji Restoration, the revolution that ushered in the Meiji period* Meiji period - the period in Japanese history when the Meiji Emperor reigned...
no Sanpitsu and Shōwa
Showa
Shōwa is the name of several places, times, people and things in Japan.* Hirohito , the 124th Emperor of Japan, known posthumously as Emperor Shōwa...
no Sanpitsu.