Tohokuin Craftsmen's Song Contest - Tohokuin Craftsmen's Song Contest

Japanese: 東北院職人歌合 - とうほくいんしょくにんうたあわせ

It is the oldest surviving artisan poetry contest composed in the Middle Ages, and according to the preface, it took the form of a poetry contest held by artisans who gathered at Tohoku-in Temple for a 13th night chanting of Buddhist prayer in 1214 (Kenpo 2). Based on the colophon, the version formerly owned by Manshu-in Temple is presumed to have been written by the emperor Hanazono-in (1297-1348). It follows on from the tradition of poetry contests and paintings of immortal poets, and newly adds artisans, so the author is likely a poet from the hall of the temple. Five categories and 10 types of artisans appear in the version formerly owned by Manshu-in Temple, while the Gunsho Ruiju version features 12 categories and 24 types of artisans, and the illustrations of the artisans in the version formerly owned by Manshu-in Temple are particularly excellent.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中世に詠作された現存の職人歌合の中で一番古いもので，序文によると1214年(建保2)東北院の十三夜の念仏に集まった職人の催した歌合という形をとる。曼殊院旧蔵本は奥書により花園院(1297‐1348)の宸筆（しんぴつ）かと推定される。歌合と歌仙絵の流れをうけ，新しく職人を配したものであり作者は堂上の歌人であろう。曼殊院旧蔵本には5番10種，群書類従本には12番24種の職人が登場，とくに曼殊院旧蔵本の職人の姿絵にはすぐれた描写がみられる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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