Kokin Wakashū Copied by Fujiwara no Teika: A National Treasure of Japanese Poetry

In a quiet corner of Kyoto, just north of the Imperial Palace, the Reizei family has safeguarded one of Japan's most precious literary manuscripts for nearly 800 years. The Kokin Wakashū (Collection of Poems Ancient and Modern), handwritten by the legendary poet and scholar Fujiwara no Teika in 1226, is not merely a book — it is a living bridge connecting modern Japan to the golden age of classical poetry. Designated a National Treasure in 1983, this manuscript represents an irreplaceable record of one man's passionate devotion to preserving and interpreting the foundations of Japanese literary culture.

What Is the Kokin Wakashū?

The Kokin Wakashū, commonly abbreviated as Kokinshū, is the first imperially commissioned anthology of Japanese poetry (waka). Ordered by Emperor Daigo and completed around 905 CE, it was compiled by four court poets led by Ki no Tsurayuki. The anthology contains approximately 1,111 poems organized into twenty books covering themes such as the four seasons, love, travel, and mourning. It established the aesthetic standards, vocabulary, and organizational principles that would guide Japanese poetry for the next thousand years.

The Kokinshū was not only a collection of beautiful verse — it was a cultural statement. Its Japanese-language preface, written by Ki no Tsurayuki, is considered the founding text of Japanese literary criticism, famously declaring that poetry springs from the seed of the human heart. This anthology elevated waka to the status of high art, placing it alongside Chinese poetry as a worthy form of imperial patronage and scholarly study.

Fujiwara no Teika: The Master Behind the Manuscript

Fujiwara no Teika (1162–1241) stands as one of the most influential figures in the history of Japanese literature. A poet, critic, scholar, and calligrapher of extraordinary talent, Teika was instrumental in compiling the Shin Kokin Wakashū (New Collection of Poems Ancient and Modern) and is celebrated as the creator of the Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each), the iconic poetry card game still enjoyed by millions of Japanese people today.

Beyond his own poetic achievements, Teika devoted immense energy to the meticulous copying and annotation of classical texts. His transcriptions of the Kokinshū, The Tale of Genji, and other masterworks became the standard versions that subsequent generations relied upon. His distinctive calligraphic style, known as Teika-yō, is instantly recognizable to scholars and remains one of the most admired handwriting styles in Japanese cultural history.

This particular manuscript was written in the fourth month of the second year of Karoku (1226), when Teika was sixty-five years old — an age at which he had achieved full mastery of both poetic interpretation and calligraphic expression.

Why Was It Designated a National Treasure?

This manuscript holds exceptional value for several interconnected reasons. First, it is the original exemplar of what scholars call the "Karoku-bon" (Karoku text) of the Kokinshū — the version that had the greatest influence on how the Kokinshū was read, studied, and transmitted throughout the medieval and early modern periods. Virtually every subsequent copy of the Kokinshū can be traced back, directly or indirectly, to Teika's editorial work.

Second, the manuscript is far more than a simple transcription. Throughout its 157 folios, Teika added his own handwritten interlinear annotations, collation notes, identifications of poets and place names, and vermilion reading marks (shuten). These dense, carefully applied notations provide an unparalleled window into how Japan's greatest poetry scholar understood and interpreted the anthology. It is, in effect, a masterclass in Kokinshū studies written in Teika's own hand.

Third, the manuscript's provenance is impeccable. A colophon at the end records the date and circumstances of its copying, and a subsequent note by Teika's son Tameie records its transfer to his own son Tamesuke — the founder of the Reizei family. Furthermore, letters from three Muromachi-period emperors (Go-Tsuchimikado, Go-Kashiwabara, and Go-Nara) who borrowed and studied this very manuscript testify to its continuous and revered presence within the Reizei household. These imperial letters are designated as supplementary items alongside the National Treasure itself.

The Reizei Family: Eight Centuries of Stewardship

The Reizei family traces its lineage directly from Fujiwara no Teika through his grandson Tamesuke, who founded the family in the late thirteenth century. As a house of waka poetry, the Reizei family has maintained an unbroken tradition of poetic practice and manuscript preservation for over 800 years — a remarkable feat of cultural continuity.

The family's treasure house, known as the Obunko (Imperial Library), is considered so sacred that only the head of the family and his eldest son may enter. Within its walls lie not only this Kokinshū manuscript but also four other National Treasures: the Korai Fūteishō (written by Teika's father Shunzei), the Gosen Wakashū (also in Teika's hand), the Shūi Gusō (Teika's personal poetry collection), and the celebrated diary Meigetsuki (Record of the Clear Moon) — Teika's intimate journal that also contains one of the earliest known records of a supernova observation.

While most noble families relocated to Tokyo during the Meiji Restoration, the Reizei family remained in Kyoto, where their residence north of the Imperial Palace survived both war and natural disaster. Their home, built in 1790, is the only surviving pre-modern aristocratic residence in Kyoto and is itself designated an Important Cultural Property.

Highlights and Points of Interest

For visitors and cultural enthusiasts, the Teika manuscript of the Kokinshū offers several layers of fascination:

• Teika's Calligraphy: The manuscript showcases the elegant Teika-yō style — a uniquely personal hand that balances discipline with artistic flair. Viewing even a reproduction allows one to appreciate the precision and beauty of medieval Japanese writing.
• Scholarly Annotations: The extensive notes, corrections, and cross-references scattered throughout the text reveal a brilliant mind at work. Red ink marks, pasted-in additions, and marginal commentary make this a living document of literary scholarship.
• Imperial Correspondence: The accompanying letters from three emperors who sought to borrow and study this manuscript illuminate the extraordinary prestige it held even centuries after its creation.
• Unbroken Provenance: The documented chain of transmission — from Teika to his son Tameie, then to his grandson Tamesuke, and through the Reizei family to the present day — is exceptionally rare in the world of medieval manuscripts.

Viewing Opportunities

The Reizei family residence and its treasures are not open to the public on a regular basis. However, there are periodic opportunities to experience aspects of this extraordinary collection. The Kyoto Association for the Preservation of Ancient Culture occasionally organizes special openings of the Reizei residence, typically in autumn, during which visitors can view the Important Cultural Property buildings and selected items from the collection. Additionally, items from the Reizei collection are sometimes lent to major exhibitions at institutions such as the Kyoto National Museum and other cultural venues.

For those who wish to study the manuscript in detail, the Reizei-ke Shiguretei Sōsho (Reizei Family Shiguretei Library Series), a comprehensive 84-volume facsimile series published by Asahi Shimbun Publications, provides high-quality reproductions of the family's most important manuscripts, including this National Treasure.

Surrounding Area and Nearby Attractions

The Reizei family residence is located on Imadegawa-dōri in Kyoto's Kamigyō Ward, placing it in the heart of one of the city's most culturally rich neighborhoods. The Kyoto Imperial Palace and its surrounding parkland lie immediately to the south, offering beautiful walking paths beneath ancient trees. Doshisha University's Imadegawa Campus, which surrounds the Reizei property, features several Important Cultural Property buildings in Western architectural styles, creating a fascinating juxtaposition of Japanese and European heritage.

A short walk to the north brings visitors to Shōkoku-ji, one of Kyoto's great Zen temples, whose Jōtenkaku Museum frequently displays National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. The famous Nishijin textile district lies to the west, while the charming streets around Teramachi and Demachiyanagi to the east offer an authentic taste of everyday Kyoto life.