New Year's calligraphy - Kakizome

It is also called "Kisho" or "Hatsusuzuri". It is the first calligraphy or drawing in the New Year. It is usually held on January 2nd. Since the Heian period, Kissho was a ceremonial document that was chosen to be submitted on an auspicious day for nobles and samurai families on special occasions such as the beginning of the New Year and the change of era. It was incorporated into the samurai traditions, and in the Edo period, it became a private event along with the popularity of terakoya schools. When it was accepted by the public, it was probably seen as the first day of work indoors. Ink is ground in fresh water and written with a brush facing the lucky direction of the year. This is pasted on a wall or wall until Koshogatsu, and on Koshogatsu it is brought together and burned in the fires of a bonfire. When the burning flame rises high into the air, people rejoice, saying that "the hands are rising" (their handwriting has improved).

[Shoji Inoguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

吉書(きっしょ)とも初硯(はつすずり)ともいう。正月に初めて書や絵をかくこと。たいてい1月2日の行事としている。吉書は平安時代以来、公家・武家において、年始・改元など事が改まった機会に、吉日を選んで奏聞する儀礼文書のことであった。それが武家故実に取り入れられ、また江戸時代には寺子屋の盛行とともに民間行事にもなった。民間で受け入れるにあたっては、屋内作業の仕事始めのような感覚であったろう。若水(わかみず)で墨をすり、その年の恵方(えほう)に向かって毛筆で書く。これを小正月(こしょうがつ)まで長押(なげし)などに貼(は)っておき、小正月には持ち寄ってどんど焼の火で焼く。その燃えかけが空中に高くあがると「手があがる」（字が上手になる）といって喜ぶ風がある。

［井之口章次］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例