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Important Cultural Property

Letter Written in Kana by Emperor Goyozei

後陽成天皇宸翰女房奉書
Letter Written in Kana by Emperor Goyozei (後陽成天皇宸翰女房奉書)
PLATE IImage: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Calligraphy & Book · Muromachi period, 16th century · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan · Goyozei (Emperor).

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
1501–1600
Creator
Goyozei (Emperor) (後陽成天皇)
Dimensions
Height45.8cm:Width131cm
Catalogue ID
cobas-4294

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This is a letter written by Emperor Goyôzei (1571-1617, r. 1586-1611) in 1593 (Bunroku 1) in order to remonstrate with Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-98), who was about to launch an assault upon Korea with his army. In the letter, the emperor says that this voyage to Korea is wasteful and tries to persuade Hideyoshi to hold back for the sake of the imperial family and the nation. Well-arranged brushstrokes on two pieces of ôtaka danshi (large-size paper made from spindle tree) well demonstrate the emperor's mastery of calligraphy. He wrote this letter at the age of 22.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Letter Written in Kana by Emperor Goyozei（後陽成天皇宸翰女房奉書）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-4294. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/letter-written-in-kana-by-emperor-goyozei/ — 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: Height45.8cm:Width131cm
  • Category: Calligraphy:Category:Imperial writings|Calligraphy:Region:Japan|Calligraphy:Period:Japan:Azuchi-Momoyama period|Calligraphy:Author:Emperors
  • 員数: 1幅
  • 分類: 書跡
  • 法量: 縦45.8cm:横131cm
  • 種別: 書跡:分類:宸翰|書跡:地域:日本|書跡:時代:日本:安土桃山・桃山|書跡:筆者:天皇・皇帝

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正親町天皇宸翰御消息 蘭奢待云々 九条稙通宛
Calligraphy & Books · Muromachi, 16th centuryKyoto NM
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