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Important Cultural Property

Kumano Kaishi (Waka Poetry)

後鳥羽天皇宸翰熊野懐紙（山河水鳥旅宿埋火）
Kumano Kaishi (Waka Poetry) (後鳥羽天皇宸翰熊野懐紙（山河水鳥旅宿埋火）)
PLATE IImage: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Calligraphy & Book · Heian period, 12th century · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
1101–1200
Dimensions
Height31.6cmWidth47cm
Catalogue ID
cobas-3854

Find more

After retiring, Emperor Go-Toba made pilgrimages almost annually to the three sacred shrines of Kumano (Wakayama). On route, he and his courtiers held poetry gatherings. This is one of the sheets (kaishi) of poetry composed on such a journey. The poems here have the themes “Mountain Streams and Water Birds” and “Travel Lodging Hearths.”

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Kumano Kaishi (Waka Poetry)（後鳥羽天皇宸翰熊野懐紙（山河水鳥旅宿埋火））.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-3854. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/kumano-kaishi-waka-poetry/ — 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: Height31.6cmWidth47cm
  • Category: Calligraphy:Category:Historical records|Calligraphy:Region:Japan|Calligraphy:Period:Japan:Kamakura period|Calligraphy:Author:Emperors
  • 員数: 1幅
  • 分類: 書跡
  • 法量: 縦31.6cm:横47cm
  • 種別: 書跡:分類:古文書|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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