Special exhibit: "The Calligraphy and Writings of Kobo Daishi Kukai"

Kobo Daishi was widely known for his excellent calligraphy, and was one of the three great calligraphers of the early Heian period, alongside Emperor Saga and Tachibana no Hayase. While his calligraphy was based on the traditional Wang Xizhi calligraphy style that had been passed down since the Nara period, he was influenced by the calligraphers who had visited China at the time and perfected his own style, which has earned him recognition as one of Japan's leading calligraphers.

When he entered China, the land of calligraphy, he was known as the "Monk of the Five Brushes," and not only demonstrated his extraordinary talent in the five styles of calligraphy - seal, clerical, regular, running, and cursive - he also made in-depth research into the miscellaneous calligraphy styles that were popular in China at the time, and is highly regarded for having passed down the Hibaku style to the present day.

Even within Japan, the calligraphy of the Daishi marked a turning point in the history of Japanese calligraphy, greatly influencing the calligraphy world in later generations. In the early modern period, the Daishi's style of calligraphy was actively studied and practiced, and the style of his time is conveyed to the present day as the "Daishi-ryu." The broad character construction and heavy brushwork are full of a large scale and rich expressiveness not seen before the Daishi, and they give a sense of the Daishi's high academic and human virtues.

This exhibition will feature 21 masterpieces of calligraphy and writing by the Daishi, including the National Treasure "Rōgo Shiki," written when he was just 24 years old before he traveled to China, and the Important Cultural Property "Sai Shigyoku Zayoumei Fragment," as well as the "Kanjō Rekimei (replica)," a record of the conferring of consecration in Konin 3 (812), and the "Fushinchō (replica)," a letter addressed to the Daishi Dengyo, Saichō.

We hope that you will enjoy viewing the many calligraphy works and masterpieces left by Kobo Daishi, Japan's most famous calligrapher, and experience the calligraphy style of the Heian and Tang dynasties and the virtues of the master himself.