Toyomichi Harumi - Bundou Shunkai

A calligrapher of the Taisho and Showa periods. Born in Sakuyama-cho, Nasu-gun, Tochigi Prefecture (now Otawara City) as the third son of Kawakami Shigehei. His name was Keichu. His childhood name was Torakichi. He entered the Buddhist priesthood at the age of six, became a monk at the age of thirteen, and was then invited by Myocho-ni of Gyogan-ji Temple in Ushigome, Tokyo, to succeed the Toyomichi family. At the age of fourteen, he studied calligraphy under Nishikawa Shundo. In 1914 (Taisho 3), he founded the Zuiun Calligraphy Society. In 1947 (Showa 22), he became a member of the Japan Art Academy, and the following year, when calligraphy was newly established as the fifth category of the Nitten Exhibition, he became a director, and also worked to revive calligraphy education after the Second World War. He excelled in Chinese characters and established a bold and majestic style of calligraphy. His calligraphy is housed in the Tokyo National Museum and Tochigi Prefectural Museum. He is a chief priest of the Tendai sect and was awarded the Person of Cultural Merit in 1967.

[Minoru Furuya]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大正・昭和の書家。栃木県那須(なす)郡佐久山町（現大田原市）に川上茂平の三男として生まれる。名は慶中。幼名は寅吉(とらきち)。6歳で仏門に入り、13歳で出家得度、ついで東京・牛込行元寺(ぎょうがんじ)の妙澄尼に請われて豊道家を継ぐ。14歳で西川春洞(しゅんどう)に師事、書を学ぶ。1914年（大正3）瑞雲(ずいうん)書道会を創立。47年（昭和22）に日本芸術院会員となり、翌年、書道が日展第5科に新設されるとともに、理事に就任、また第二次世界大戦後の書道教育の復興にも努めた。書は漢字をよくし、気骨ある雄大な書風を樹立。東京国立博物館ならびに栃木県立博物館に遺墨が収蔵されている。天台宗大僧正(だいそうじょう)。67年文化功労者。

［古谷　稔］

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