Nogami Memorial Hosei University Nohgaku Research Institute 70th Anniversary Special Exhibition "Crisis and Nohgaku" and "Treasure" replica for the first time

Among the many valuable Nohgaku materials in the Nogami Memorial Hosei University Nohgaku Research Institute's collection, the most frequently requested to be photographed or exhibited are The "Two Pieces and Three Figures" (Nyikyoku San-tai Ningyo Zu) (The NIKKYOKU SANTAI NINGYO ZU (Ningyo Zu. (Noh play), a Noh play with two pieces of music and three bodies of puppets. and Koetsu Chanting Book ( Kōetsu utaibon ( and "Koetsu Chant Book" () and "Koetsu Utaibon" ("Koetsu Chant Book").

The institute has the only important cultural property in Hosei University's collection, the Yoshikawa ( Kikkawa The only important cultural property in the possession of Hosei University, "Kikkawa) The institute also has a Kurumaya Chant Book, the only important cultural property owned by the Hosei University, but it is rarely requested to be exhibited, perhaps because of its modest appearance. This summer, a special exhibition at the Nara National Museum entitled "Princess Nakasahime" was held. Princess Chushohime ( Princess Chujo and) and Taima (Taima) Taima ) Mandala" was the first time they were loaned out for exhibition, and the difference in popularity was obvious. On the other hand, requests to exhibit "Nikkyoku santai ningyōzu" and "Koetsu utai hon" come in without a break, and I often have a hard time deciding whether I should allow them to be exhibited or not.

The "Nikkyoku santai ningyōzu" was created in 1421 by Zeami (The Zeami Zeami) It is a biography written by Zeami in 1421. Zeami's own handwritten book does not exist, and only two copies from the Muromachi period (1336-1573) have been handed down. The oldest surviving copy is in the possession of the Institute and was written by Zeami's daughter-in-law Zenchiku Kinshun, Zeami's son-in-law. Konparu Zenchiku Konparu Zenchiku The oldest surviving copy is in the possession of the institute.) The oldest surviving copy is in the possession of the institute. It is said to be the best representation of Zeami's lost manuscript.

The other, "Koetsu Uyo-bon" is a chant book published in the early Edo period (1603-1868). Printed in mica (printed in Kirazuri The cover and the paper for the text are decorated with a pattern of mica (kirazuri). It is known as a gorgeous book decorated with a kirazuri pattern on the cover and text paper. Because of its printed nature, the Koetsu Chant Book itself has been handed down from generation to generation, but the Koetsu Chant Book (Koetsu Chant Book) in the institute's collection is the only one that is known to have been printed in Japan. Ohara Gokou Ohara Gokou Ohara Goko The "Koetsu Chant Book (Ohara Goko) However, the Koetsu Uyo-bon ("Ohara Goko") owned by the institute is the finest special edition, decorated with 18 different mica print patterns, and no other "Koetsu Uyo-bon" is exactly the same as this one. It is truly a one-of-a-kind rare "treasure.

The HOSEI Museum Preparatory Fund has decided to make replicas of these two treasures. The replicas will be made by a Kyoto-based company with a proven track record in replica production, Oiri Oiri Co. (Oiri), a Kyoto-based company with many years of experience in replica production. Oiri Oiri) The replica completed by Oiri, a Kyoto-based company with a proven track record in the production of replicas, is a magnificent work of art. The paper quality of the original is of course excellent, but the binding is also very good, the binding string The replica is a perfect replica of the original. binding string The original paper quality and even the twists and turns of the binding string have been precisely reproduced.) It is difficult to tell which is the original and which is a replica just by glancing at them.

From the viewpoint of preservation, the original cannot be exhibited for a long period of time, but a replica can. In the special exhibition "Crisis and Nohgaku" commemorating the 70th anniversary of the institute, the two replicas will be exhibited for a long period of time in the museum core. We hope that many people will take this opportunity to view them.
*An article on the commemorative exhibition also appeared in the August/September issue.

Interview supported by: HOSEI Museum Office, Nogami Memorial Hosei University Institute of Nohgaku

(First published in the October 2022 issue of Hosei, a public relations magazine)