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Manuscript on paper, written throughout in one fine hand, not titled but concerned throughout with the incense ceremony by YONEKAWA RYU (KUMIKO)

by YONEKAWA RYU (KUMIKO)

Manuscript on paper, written throughout in one fine hand, not titled but concerned throughout with the incense ceremony by YONEKAWA RYU (KUMIKO)

Manuscript on paper, written throughout in one fine hand, not titled but concerned throughout with the incense ceremony

by YONEKAWA RYU (KUMIKO)

  • Used
Two illus. in the text & several genji mon linear patterns. 83 folding leaves plus a few blanks. Oblong 8vo (135 x 300 mm.), orig. silk-brocade covered wrappers, new stitching. [Japan: mid-Edo].<br /> <P> This fine manuscript contains descriptions of an unusually large number of kumiko incense games, grouped in novel ways, of the Yonekawa school of incense, active throughout the Edo period. The Yonekawa ryu school was a branch of the Shino ryu school. Many royal and daimyo (feudal lord) families supported the Yonekawa ryu, including Empress Consort Masako (1607-78), second wife of the cultured Emperor Go-Mizunoo.<br /> <P> The anonymous author provides detailed instructions on how to create the proper ambience for the incense ceremony. The host must provide an environment free of other scents. Therefore, only a certain kind of neutral candle wax is used, a careful choice is made of confectionaries that would not give off conflicting odors, no alcohol is served, etc.<br /> <P> Usually, kumiko are in groups of ten, but the first group described contains an eleventh, a "most secret" game called "renriko," based on the writings of the renowned Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi (772-846). In this game, the ashes of the wood chips were pressed in a different way from the other games.<br /> <P> A number of the games, outside of the usual canon of about 200, are introduced and use new kinds of woods not hitherto used (mushi). Many of the games are seasonal.<br /> <P> In fine condition.