Kyoto University Library Network

7 items including “文机談” from Kikutei Collection held by the Main Library are now available in Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive. 

Kikutei Collection is an assembly of manuscripts and books handed down through the Kikutei Family founded by Kanesue (1281-1339; 兼季), the forth son of Sanekane Saionji (1249-1322; 西園寺実兼). The Kikutei (Imadegawa) Family was designated one of the highest status court families called the Seiga (清華) family which members can be appointed as Daijō-daijin (太政大臣) and served as biwa (Japanese lute) players. The collection includes many records of the court rituals, documents on music and instruments, and diaries hand-written by nobles.
The collection deposited in 1921 and 1923 and additional documents and scrolls of portraits related to the Kikutei Family were donated to the Main Library, Kyoto University by the owner of the collection and were formally registered as the holdings of the library in January 2021.
 

▼Kikutei Collection

Bunkidan (文机談) is a collection of musical stories centered around the biwa (Japanese lute), compiled during the Bun'ei period (1264-1275). The book vividly describes the schools and masters of the biwa, and is an important source for understanding the history of music from the Heian to Kamakura periods. The second volume contains the story of Kamo no Chōmei (鴨長明), who was fond of playing the biwa.
According to the legend of the Kikutei family, the manuscript is considered to be an autograph copy by the author, Bunkibō Ryūen (文机房隆圓). However, it is actually believed to be a transcription from the late Kamakura period, not long after the work’s completion. Among the nine known versions of Bunkidan, the book of the Kikutei Collection is the oldest. Five volumes in five booklets are extant, although some pages are missing.
The second through fifth volumes were written on the reverse side of letters. In the digitization process, we restored the damaged papers, disassembled the books, and digitized all documents written inside of the pages. By making these reverse-side documents publicly available for the first time, it is hoped that further examination will determine the date of transcription in the future.

“文机談” Left: Signature by Ryūen / Right: Beginning of the first volume

In addition, six other titles are also available, including Korefusa Kōki (惟房公記), the autograph diary of Madenokōji Korefusa (万里小路惟房; 1513-1573), a Sengoku period lord, and a floor plan of the Kikutei residence.

“邸宅指図”

As of January 30, 2025, Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive provides 2,154,407 images of 25,517 titles.
 

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