Lot 68: Sumiyoshi Gukei (1631-1705)

New Six Immortal Poets ( Shin Rokkasen ) and six poems One painting signed Hokkyo Gukei hitsu and all sealed Sumiyoshi edokoro Six paintings by Gukei and six poems by six calligraphers including Kampaku Fusasuke and others mounted as an accordion album; ink, color and gold on silk 7 7/8 x 7 1/16in. (20 x 18cm.) each approx. NOTES Since Ki no Tsurayuki (d. 936) listed the six most talented poets in the preface to the Kokin Wakashu, these six poets became known as the Six Immortal Poets ( Rokkasen ). In the Kamakura period, a new set of six poets (named Gokyogoku sessho zen dajo daijin, Kotaigogu tayu Shunzei, Zen daisojo Jien, Zen chunagon Sadaie, Ju nii Ietaka and Saigyo hoshi) was suggested which became known as the New Six Immortal Poets ( Shin Rokkasen ). The album shown here contains portraits of the six new poets and one of their poems. A similar album of the same subject by Gukei is in the Avery Brundage Collection in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.