Itsuzan (佚山)

Itsuzan (1702 - March 22, 1778) was a calligrapher and Tenkoku artist (a carver who carved Chinese characters in the special, Tensho, style). He followed a line of the Kintai school and was recorded in the Tenkoku history in Japan. He published many books on Tenkoku.

He called himself Shurai MORIMOTO or Shurai MORI, and Itsuzan later after he became a priest. He called himself Mokuin or Josoku Dojin as well. He came from Naniwa (present Osaka).

His personal history

It is said that he learned calligraphy from Kagaku MAKI and devoted himself solely to writing and carving Tensho style Chinese characters throughout his life. After entering the Buddhist priesthood, he lived in Kenyu-ji Temple at Tennoji-Higashimon and moved later to Nishibayashi-an (monastery) of Seigan-ji Temple in Kyoto.

He became most famous among the persons who learned from Mosho NIIOKI. His Tenkoku works were decorative. He investigated the Tensho style based on "Setsumonchosen (説文長箋)" by Huanguang ZHAO. Through his relationship with Nobumitsu HAYASHI, Daigaku no kami (Director of the Bureau of Education), he presented to the bakufu "Kotenrongo" and "Kinsenfu," books that he wrote. He was good at painting bamboos with a brush using Indian ink, and had interests in literary persons and studies.

When he died, he was 77 years old. He was buried in Horin-ji Temple (located in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City) at Shimotachiuri-dori Street.

The books he wrote
"Tensho Senjibun" (literally, 1000 Chinese character sentences in the Tensho style)
"Hoketsutentai idoka"
"Senbunidoko"
"Kotenrongo"
"Kinsenfu" (Inpu (compilation of seal marks))
"Shurai Inpu" (Literally, inpu by Shurai)
"Denkahokohaku"

[Original Japanese]