Treasures of JapanA catalogue of Japan's designated cultural properties
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Important Cultural Property

Letter by Jakushitsu Genko

寂室元光消息
Letter by Jakushitsu Genko (寂室元光消息)
PLATE IImage: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Calligraphy & Book · Nanbokuchō period, 14th century · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
1301–1400
Dimensions
Height27.3cm:Width88.5cm
Catalogue ID
cobas-4188

Find more

This letter was written by Shukushitsu Genkô (1290-1367), a priest of the Rinzai Zen sect, known as the founder of the temple, Eigen-ji, in Ômi Province (present-day Shiga Prefecture). Nothing is known about the recipient, a priest at the temple Gezô-in. The letter includes news of the departure to battle of Sasaki Ujiyori (n.d.), governor of Ômi Province, who had invited Genkô to establish Eigen-ji. This document is thought to date from after the opening of the temple.

— Museum description: Kyoto National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Letter by Jakushitsu Genko（寂室元光消息）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-4188. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/letter-by-jakushitsu-genko/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Calligraphy
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • Category: Calligraphy:Category:Books:Japanese books|Calligraphy:Region:Japan|Calligraphy:Period:Japan:Nanbokuchō period
  • Size: Height27.3cm:Width88.5cm
  • 員数: 1幅
  • 種別: 書跡:分類:典籍:和書|書跡:地域:日本|書跡:時代:日本:南北朝
  • 分類: 書跡
  • 法量: 縦27.3cm:横88.5cm

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