Sanju Rokunin Kashu
Sanju-rokunin Kashu is a set of illuminated manuscript codex from the early 12th century containing a collection of waka poems by thirty-six master poets. They were originally selected for an 11th-century anthology known as the Sanju-rokuninsen by Fujiwara no Kintō. In the 12th century, the poems were transcribed as a compilation for the birthday of Emperor Toba consisting of 39 volumes and involving 20 calligraphers. It is the oldest surviving manuscript that contains the collection of the 36 poets and is designated as a National Treasure, and is believed to be the oldest known example of paper marbling. It also contains chigiri-e, a type of paper collage. In the 16th century, the works were dedicated to Nishi Honganji which was located in Ishiyama in the Osaka Prefecture. The temple was later moved to Kyoto and divided, and at this point the works became part of the formal Nishi Hongan-ji National Treasures, where they are still stored.
The set contains thirty-nine volumes of which thirty-two are original in ACE1109-1112. One was altered to another late Heian period manuscript. Four volumes are from the mid-17th century. Two volumes are replicas by Tanaka Shinbi produced c. 1920s. The original two volumes were separated and sold to collectors as single leaves in 1929. The manuscripts are Detchōsō bound. 20 cm x 16 cm and the paper ornamented with silver, gold, colour, mica, and ink.