Private Collection (Karakami Paper) by Sosei, Kanesuke,

What Are Shikashū? Personal Anthologies in the Age of Court Poetry

In the literary world of Heian Japan (794–1185), the imperial court regularly commissioned official anthologies of waka—classical 31-syllable poems—known as chokusenshū. Alongside these public collections, individual poets and their families compiled personal anthologies called shikashū (literally, "private collections"). These intimate gatherings of one poet's verses became cherished family heirlooms and the primary means by which a poet's voice was preserved across generations.

The Reizei House—descended from Fujiwara no Shunzei (1114–1204) and his son Fujiwara no Teika (1162–1241), two of the most influential poet-critics in Japanese history—accumulated an extraordinary library of such manuscripts over eight centuries. Among these, the six karakami volumes stand apart for the sheer beauty of their materials and the calligraphic refinement of their pages.

The Six Poets Honored in the Collection

Each of the six volumes preserves the verses of a poet who shaped the foundation of classical Japanese poetry between the ninth and tenth centuries.

The Magic of Karakami: A Brief Introduction to Decorated Paper

Karakami, meaning "Tang paper" or "Chinese-style paper," was originally imported from continental China during the Heian period. Highly prized for its beauty, it was eventually produced in Japan as well using woodblocks to print delicate patterns in mica (kira) over base sheets dyed in soft colors.

The karakami used for these six anthologies bears arabesque vine-and-flower patterns (karakusa-mon) and includes a variety of designs: hexagonal patterns in white mica on white grounds, flowering arabesques in yellow mica, vine motifs on pale red grounds, floral arabesques on indigo, phoenix-and-vine designs, and gourd-and-vine patterns. When light catches the mica surface, the patterns shimmer subtly against the calligraphy, creating an effect that combines visual splendor with literary refinement—an aesthetic ideal central to Heian court culture.

Why This Collection Was Designated an Important Cultural Property

The volumes were recognized for their exceptional value on several counts. First, they preserve text variants of these classical poets' works that differ from other surviving manuscripts—the Sosei-shū volume, for example, contains three final poems not found in any other known transmission, making it a uniquely important witness to the development of the textual tradition.

Second, several pages carry annotations in the hand of Fujiwara no Teika himself, who marked which poems had been selected for inclusion in earlier imperial anthologies. These marginalia confirm that the volumes were treasured working copies in Teika's own library, used as he and his descendants edited and compiled some of Japan's most important poetic anthologies including the Shin Kokin Wakashū.

Third, the karakami paper itself is among the finest surviving examples of decorated manuscript paper from the period. Few comparable sets remain anywhere in Japan, and none preserves such a complete grouping of celebrated poets in a single uniform style.

The Reizei House and Its 800-Year Stewardship

The Reizei family, descended from Fujiwara no Tamesuke (1263–1328)—the grandson of Teika—has continuously protected these treasures for roughly eight centuries. Their residence in central Kyoto, just north of the Imperial Palace grounds, is the only surviving complete kuge (aristocratic) mansion in Japan, and the storehouse known as the Obunko within its grounds is considered so sacred that, by tradition, only the current head of the family and his heir may enter.

Over the centuries the family produced three official compilers of imperial anthologies: Shunzei (the Senzai Wakashū), Teika (the Shin Kokin Wakashū and Shin Chokusen Wakashū), and Tameie (the Shoku Gosen Wakashū and Shoku Kokin Wakashū). The shikashū volumes in this collection were essential reference materials that supported this remarkable poetic legacy.

Visitor Information: A Treasure Rarely Seen

The Reizei residence and its library are normally closed to the public. The volumes themselves are housed in the secret Obunko storehouse and are not displayed even when the residence is open. However, the house itself does open for special public viewings on a limited schedule.

The Kyoto Hikōkai Bunkazai Tokubetsu Kōkai (Kyoto Special Viewing of Normally Closed Cultural Properties) typically includes the Reizei residence for several days during the Golden Week holiday in spring and for a similar period in late October or early November. During these openings, visitors can walk the garden and tour the interior of the historic mansion, though the manuscripts themselves remain in storage. Admission is generally 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for high school and junior high school students. Photography is not permitted on the grounds.

The Reizei-ke Shiguretei Bunko Foundation occasionally lends manuscripts—including pages from these karakami volumes—to special exhibitions at major museums such as the Kyoto National Museum, the Tokyo National Museum, and the Idemitsu Museum of Arts. Checking ongoing exhibitions before a trip can be a rewarding way to see actual pages on display.

Discovering the Reizei Neighborhood

The Reizei residence stands in the historic former aristocratic district of Kyoto, an area rich with sites for the literary traveler. Just steps to the south lies the Kyoto Gyoen, the vast park surrounding the former Imperial Palace, where centuries of court poetry came into being. Sakuramachi and other historic streets nearby preserve traces of the original kuge town layout.

Within a short walk, visitors can reach the Kyoto Imperial Palace itself (Kyoto Gosho), the elegant Sentō Imperial Palace, and Dōshisha University's beautiful Imadegawa campus, whose grounds embrace the Reizei property on three sides. Slightly farther afield, the World Heritage Shimogamo Shrine to the northeast and the Kamo River walking paths offer scenic interludes.

For lovers of classical Japanese culture, the Reizei neighborhood also offers access to the Kyoto Cultural Museum and the Museum of Kyoto, both of which regularly mount exhibitions related to court literature and aristocratic life.