Emperor Go-Uda; Kamakura period
Ink and color on paper
Emperor Go-Uda
JAPAN, Kyoto; Kamakura period
Emperor Go-Uda (reigned 1274–1287), originally known as Yohito, was the 91st emperor of Japan and the second son of Emperor Kameyama (reigned 1259–1274). He was earnest in learning and studied numerous texts. Devoted to Buddhist cultivation, he took refuge under Master Kukai at Toji Temple and assumed the Dharma name Kongosho.
His writing skills were powerful and nurtured, each character being wide and spacious, with possible influences from the calligraphic styles of Yan Zhenqing and Master Kukai. His existing calligraphic works include Biography of Master Kukai and Will and Testament with Handprints, now kept at Daikakuji Temple; Letter and Prayer for the Prosperity of Toji Temple, kept at Toji Temple; and Promotion of the Precepts of the Daigo School, kept at Daigoji Temple. All of these works have been listed as National Treasures.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: People, page 56.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youlu and Pokorski, Stefanie and Yichao and Mankuang and Miaohsi,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: People },
pages = 56,
title = {{Emperor Go-Uda}},
volume = 19,
year = {2016}}