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National Treasure

Hokuzansho (Manual on Courtly Etiquette)

稿本北山抄巻第十
Hokuzansho (Manual on Courtly Etiquette) (稿本北山抄巻第十)
PLATE IImage: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Calligraphy & Book · Heian period, 11th century · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated National Treasure of Japan · Fujiwara Kinto.

Fact Sheet

Designation
National Treasure (国宝)
Date
1001–1100
Creator
Fujiwara Kinto (藤原公任、入道大納言公任、右衛門督公任)
Dimensions
Height30.3cm:Width1279cm
Catalogue ID
cobas-3776

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Same creator
Fujiwara Kinto →

The manuscript Hokuzansho, vol. X, is the only surviving portion of the record of annual events in the Imperial Palace, affairs of state, and other matters which was kept by Fujiwara Kinto (966-1041). The two letters in kana among the twenty-five thousand documents found on the reverse side were written during the several years preceding 1001. They are truly invaluable as the oldest extant letters in kana and as proof that continuous cursive script in kana-gana had developed by that time.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Hokuzansho (Manual on Courtly Etiquette)(稿本北山抄巻第十).” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-3776. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/hokuzansho-manual-on-courtly-etiquette/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Category: Calligraphy:Category:Books:Japanese books|Calligraphy:Region:Japan|Calligraphy:Period:Japan:Heian period
  • Cultural property designation: National Treasure
  • Genre: Calligraphy
  • Quantity: 1 handscrolls
  • Size: Height30.3cm:Width1279cm
  • 員数: 1巻
  • 分類: 書跡
  • 種別: 書跡:分類:典籍:和書|書跡:地域:日本|書跡:時代:日本:平安
  • 時代世紀: 平安時代 中期 ・11世紀
  • 法量: 縦30.3cm:横1279cm

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