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Letters from Japan’s Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries

Correspondence from Warlords, Tea Masters, Zen Priests, and Aristocrats
by Morgan Pitelka (Author), Reiko Tanimura (Author), Takashi Masuda (Author)
Paperback eBook
Price: $25.00 / £21.00
Publication Date: Feb 2022
Publisher:
Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California Berkeley
Imprint: Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California Berkeley
Title Details:
Rights: World
Pages: 226
ISBN: 9781557291967
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Series:
  • Japan Research Monograph
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About the Book

Cultural historians Morgan Pitelka and Reiko Tanimura partner with one of Japan’s premier experts in calligraphy and letter writing, Takashi Masuda, to translate and annotate twenty-three unique letters alongside images of the hand-brushed originals. Each letter is presented first in its original format as a brushed piece of calligraphy. The authors provide a transcription of the letter into Japanese, followed by an English translation. Next is a commentary with the biography of the letter’s author and in some cases the addressee, the context for its writing, and brief descriptions of relevant locations, individuals, and historical events mentioned therein. This book offers readers rare access in English to the voices of renowned historical figures from Japan’s Age of Unification and early Edo period.

About the Author

Professor Morgan Pitelka teaches Japanese history and serves as the Chair of the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Education: Ph.D. (East Asian Studies, Princeton University)

Dr. Reiko Tanimura teaches Japanese history and researches early modern culture at the Institute of Asian Cultural Studies, International Christian University, Tokyo. Education: Ph.D. (Comparative Culture, International Christian University)

Dr. Takashi Masuda taught at and served as the president of Aichi Bunkyo University. An expert in Japanese literature, letters, and calligraphy, he currently teaches at Aichi Toho University. Education: Ph.D. (Japanese literature, Tokyo University of Education)

Table of Contents

Foreword vii
A Melodramatic Age 1
Morgan Pitelka
Letters as a Window on Culture 11
Reiko Tanimura
Musings on Letters 27
Takashi Masuda
A Brief History of Letters in Japan 37
Morgan Pitelka
1. Takeda Shingen (1521–1573), Warlord 43
2. Sen no Rikyu (1522–1591), Tea Master 51
3. Hosokawa Yusai (1534–1610), Warlord and Tea Master 59
4. Inagaki Toshitsugu (late 16th c.), Vassal of Toyotomi Hidenaga 65
5. Furuta Oribe (1543 or 1544–1615), Warlord and Tea Master 73
6. Hoshun’in (1547–1617), Samurai Woman, Wife of a Warlord 79
7. Todo Takatora (1556–1630), Warlord and Construction Commissioner 85
8. Hon’ami Koetsu (1558–1637), Sword Appraiser and Calligrapher 91
9. Konoe Nobutada (1565–1614), Courtier and Calligrapher 97
10. Date Masamune (1567–1636), Warlord and Falconer 103
11. Doi Toshikatsu (1573–1644), Warlord 109
12. Kogetsu Sogan (1574–1643), Zen Priest 115
13. Takuan Soho (1573–1645), Zen Priest 121
14. Karasumaru Mitsuhiro (1579–1638), Courtier and Artist 127
15. Kobori Enshu (1579–1647), Warlord, Tea Master, and Garden Designer 133
16. Nagaoka Kyumu (1580–1646), Tea Practitioner, Hosokawa Family Member 139
17. Kanamori Sowa (1584–1657), Warlord and Tea Master 145
18. Shokado Shojo (1584–1639), Zen Priest and Calligrapher 151
19. Hosokawa Tadatoshi (1586–1641), Warlord 157
20. Maeda Toshitsune (1594–1658), Warlord, Collector, and Tea Practitioner 163
21. Okabe Nobukatsu (1597–1668), Warlord 169
22. Konoe Nobuhiro (1599–1649), Courtier 175
23. Tofukumon’in (1607–1678), Empress and Patron of the Arts 181
Notes on Transcription 187
Japanese Character List 191
Works Cited 193
Figures 205

Reviews

"Letters from Japan's Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries offers vivid and varied glimpses into elite life and cultural practices in early modern Japan. With its careful translations, detailed contextualization, and expert guidance, it is sure to be an invaluable classroom resource."—Erin Brightwell, University of Michigan

"This is just the sort of (not so little) handbook I wish had been around when I was an undergraduate or even a brand new grad student. With hefty introductions to the subject matter, reproduced originals, glosses, translations, and extensive commentaries, it should make a great many students and instructors happy."—David Spafford, University of Pennsylvania

"The combination of scholarly introductory essays and documents with transcription, translation, and accompanying commentary-not to mention photographs of the original documents-make this an invaluable book with multiple uses for undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholarly audiences alike."—Constantine Vaporis, University of Maryland, Baltimore County