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Fragment of the Hosokawa Edition of Kakaisho, Volume 1, from the Moshiogusa Album of Exemplary Calli
手鑑「藻塩草」 河海抄巻第一断簡（細川切）
Calligraphy & Books · Muromachi, 1336Kyoto NM
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Important Cultural Property
Letter by Emperor Godaigo
後醍醐天皇宸翰消息
At a glance — Calligraphy & Book · Nanbokuchō period, 14th century · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan · Godaigo (Emperor).
Fact Sheet
- Designation
- Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
- Category
- Calligraphy & Books
- Date
- 1301–1400
- Creator
- Godaigo (Emperor) (後醍醐天皇、尊治親王)
- Dimensions
- Height26.4cm:Width470cm
- Held by
- Kyoto National Museum
- Location
- Higashiyama, Kyoto
- Catalogue ID
- cobas-4165
Find more
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This record is a letter by Emperor Go'daigo (1288-1339), grieving over the death of Ayanokoji Ariyori, who taught him Eikyoku song and Wagon harp. The Emperor allowed Ariyori's son to inherit his father's masterpieces in this letter. Ariyori taught Eikyoku song and Wagon harp to both Emperor Go'fushimi and Emperor Go'daigo. He died on July 18, 1329, at the age of 35. His son was only 8 years old. The emperor's signature, written seal, and date are not in the letter, but it is assumed that the Emperor wrote the letter at the age of 42, soon after Ariyori's death. Characterized by the bold stroke of the brush pen, this is a unique masterpiece of the Emperor's handwriting.
— Museum description: Kyoto National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.
Record & Sources
- Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財), Government of Japan
- Catalogue ID: cobas-4165 (permanent)
- Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-4165
- Holder's collection: ColBase — Kyoto National Museum
- Photograph: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0. CC BY 4.0 licence
Cite this page: “Letter by Emperor Godaigo（後醍醐天皇宸翰消息）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-4165. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/letter-by-emperor-godaigo/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
- Genre: Calligraphy
- Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
- Size: Height26.4cm:Width470cm
- Category: Calligraphy:Category:Imperial writings|Calligraphy:Region:Japan|Calligraphy:Period:Japan:Kamakura period|Calligraphy:Author:Emperors
- 員数: 1幅
- 分類: 書跡
- 法量: 縦26.4cm:横470cm
- 種別: 書跡:分類:宸翰|書跡:地域:日本|書跡:時代:日本:鎌倉|書跡:筆者:天皇・皇帝
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