Poem by Onakatomi Yoshinobu with Underpainting of Hollyhocks early 17th century Calligraphy by Shōkadō Shōjō Japanese The honorific Three Brushes of the Kan’ei Era” was given to Shōkadō Shōjō, Hon’ami Kōetsu (1558-1637), and Konoe Nobutada (1565-1614), all of whom were active in the Kyoto area. Both Shōjō, a Shingon monk, and Kōetsu, who worked as a ceramist and lacquer designer, turned to the painter Tawaraya Sōtatsu and his studio to create underpaintings for their calligraphic work. Here, Shōjō transcribed an ancient poem exalting the emperor by Ōnakatomi no Yoshinobu (921-991). The choice of poem and Shōjō’s fluid kana calligraphy reflect the renewed interest in classical literature that blossomed around the early 1600s.Chitose made kagireru matsu mo kyō yori wa kimi hikarete yorozuyo ya hemu Though pine trees maylive a thousand years,the pine shoot pluckedby His Majesty, however,will flourish forever.-Trans. John T. Carpenter. Poem by Onakatomi Yoshinobu with Underpainting of Hol