In Japan, examples of old calligraphy are generally called kohitsu, “ancient handwriting.” In a narrow sense, that term refers to Japanese calligraphy in poetry collections from the Heian through the Kamakura periods (794–1333). During the Heian period, aristocrats commissioned talented calligraphers to copy the Kokin Wakashū Poetry Anthology, other poetry anthologies, or their private collections, for use as gifts or furnishings. During the Muromachi period (1392–1573), single sheets or pages or even a few lines were extracted from those works for the increasingly popular tea gatherings and for personal appreciation. Those segments detached from ancient calligraphic works are known as kohitsugire, “detached segments of ancient Japanese calligraphy.”

This exhibition showcases examples of these detached segments of ancient calligraphy from the Heian through the Kamakura periods, primarily from our collection. The focal point of this exhibition is a recent acquisition, the Kōya-gire (Detached Segment of the Kokin Wakashū), an Important Cultural Property. Please enjoy the beauty and unique appeal of each of these examples of ancient calligraphy.

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The Nezu Museum of Art was established in 1941 in the private residence of Kaichiro Nezu I (1860-1940), an industrialist who served as president of the Tobu Railway Company, to preserve and exhibit his collection of Japanese and Oriental antiques. Concerned about the outflow of Japanese artwork overseas after the Meiji era, Kaichiro collected an unusually wide range of items for a private collection, including paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, ceramics, lacquerware, textiles, and metalwork. In his later years, while enjoying tea ceremony under the name of Seizan, he collected tea utensils, which are also an important pillar of the collection. The collection currently contains over 7,600 items, including seven national treasures, 88 important cultural properties, and 94 important art objects.

The main building, designed by Kengo Kuma, was newly renovated and opened in 2009. In a space with a Japanese atmosphere, the museum holds seven exhibitions a year, each with a different theme, featuring a wide range of work from its collection. After the exhibitions, visitors can enjoy a stroll in the 17,000㎡ garden, which still retains remnants of the Nezu family's private residence.

Shared Beauty: Detached Segments of Ancient Japanese Calligraphy

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