Sanseki - Sanseki

A name given to three calligraphers of the Heian period, Ono no Tofu, Fujiwara no Sari, and Fujiwara no Yukinari, in honor of them. They are also called the Three Wise Men or the Three Saints, and are in the same vein as the names of Kukai, Emperor Saga, and Tachibana no Hayanari as the "Three Calligraphers." The name "Yadofu's handwriting" is shortened to Yaseki, Sari to Saseki, and Yukinari to Gonseki (their highest official position was Gon Dainagon), but the name "Sanseki" was first seen in the "Wakan Meisu" (Japanese-Chinese Dictionary) compiled by Kaibara Ekiken in the Edo period. However, the combination of Dofu, Sari, and Yukinari was already seen in the "Saiyosho" (Saiyosho) written by Fujiwara no Norinaga in the late Heian period. Thanks to the efforts of Sanseki, who has preserved his precious masterpieces to this day, it can be said that Japanese-style calligraphy has reached its perfection.

[Shoichi Kuboki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安時代の能書家、小野道風(おののとうふう)、藤原佐理(すけまさ)、藤原行成(ゆきなり)の3人を尊崇した呼称。三賢、三聖ともいい、空海、嵯峨(さが)天皇、橘逸勢(たちばなのはやなり)を「三筆」とよぶのと同式である。また、「野道風(やどうふう)筆跡」を縮めて野跡(やせき)、佐理を佐跡(させき)、行成を権跡(ごんせき)（極官が権大納言(ごんだいなごん)）とそれぞれよぶが、三蹟の呼称の初見は江戸時代の貝原益軒(かいばらえきけん)編『和漢名数』である。ただし、道風・佐理・行成の3人の組合せは、すでに平安末期の藤原教長(のりなが)著『才葉抄(さいようしょう)』にみられる。貴重な名筆を今日に伝える三蹟の活躍により、和様書道は完成をみたといえよう。

［久保木彰一］

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