Handbook “Kanboku Castle”

The "Castle of Calligraphy" catalog of ancient calligraphy, along with "Moshiokusa" (Kyoto National Museum) and "Friends of the Unseen World" (Idemitsu Museum of Arts), is renowned as one of the three major catalogs of ancient calligraphy. It is believed to have been compiled early among the catalogs, and was passed down as a basic ledger for appraisals to Ryochu Kohitsu (1655-1736), a member of the ancient calligraphy family. It was later acquired by Donno Masuda (1847-1938). The name "Castle of Calligraphy" means a castle built with calligraphy (brush) and ink, a fitting name for a treasure trove of master calligraphy. The collection contains a total of 311 pieces, 154 front pages and 157 back pages, featuring calligraphy from the Nara period through the Northern and Southern Courts and Muromachi periods.