Fujiwara no Teika
1211 (Kenryaku 1)
Important Cultural Property
Donated by the Homma family
This is a letter written by Fujiwara no Teika (1162–1241), an aristocrat and poet active during the late Heian and early Kamakura periods, who left a significant mark on the history of Japanese literature.
On 4 October 1211, Fujiwara no Teika’s son Tameie (1197–1275) attended a ceremony for Nijo Yoshizane’s appointment as minister. Tameie did not observe the dress code for the occasion, which precipitated an inquiry from the Emperor Gotoba. This letter is a reply to this inquiry.
In this reply, Fujiwara no Teika acknowledged Tameie’s misstep, but pointed out that he was merely a 14-year-old child and unable to comply due to a sudden change in the ceremony’s schedule; and indeed, that he himself wished to express his dissatisfaction about the affair.
This letter came to the Homma family during the early Showa period via the Sakai family, who ruled over the former Shōnai Domain. The accompanying box is inscribed with the Sakai family’s storehouse number, “Wo-no-in 55th”.