Sanpitsu
The term Sanpitsu (三筆) or "three brushes" is used in Japanese to refer to a group of three famous Heian period calligraphers:
- Emperor Saga 嵯峨天皇, 786–842.
- Kūkai 空海, 774–835.
- Tachibana no Hayanari, 橘逸勢 c. 782-842.
A later group of calligraphers named in imitation of the original Sanpitsu are Kan'ei Sanpitsu (寛永三筆) named for the Kan'ei period in which they flourished:
- Honami Kōetsu 本阿弥光悦, 1558-1637
- Konoe Nobutada 近衛信尹, 1565-1614
- Shōkadō Shōjō 松花堂昭乗, 1584-1639
Yet another group named in this fashion are the Zen Chinese calligraphers who worked in Japan known as the Obaku no Sanpitsu (黄檗三筆):
- Ingen Ryūki, 隱元隆琦 1592-1673
- Mokuan Shōtō,木庵性瑫 1611-1684
- Sokuhi Nyoitsu, 即非如一 1616-1671
Since this time, the term sanpitsu has been used to designate other groups of renowned calligraphers in groups of three: Bakumatsu no Sanpitsu, Meiji no Sanpitsu and Shōwa no Sanpitsu.
See also[edit]
- Sanseki, a similar group of renowned calligraphers