The words
and deeds of court-noble Konoe Iehiro 近衛家熈 (1667-1736) as
collected by his personal physician Yamashina Douan 山科道安 (1677-1746). Compiled
from New Year's 1724 to New Year's 1735, the book includes central seven
volumes and four supplementary volumes. KAIKI is a shortened version
of KAIKAYOBUN 槐下与聞. Iehiro was reputed to be very learned, talented, and
a critic of the tea ceremony. Under his guidance a cultured salon called
Yorakuin 予楽院 flourished, dedicated to the study of literature, tea ceremony,
and other arts. KAIKI outlines the history, the regulations, techniques
and implements as perceived by the nobility at that time. It also includes
commentary on poetry, court and warriors esoteric and ceremonies, as well
as information on flower arrangement and incense burning. (It is believed
that for a time KAIKI was banned for revealing too much about the secret
ways of incense burning.) While the whereabouts of the original is unknown,
a sufficient number of copies were made to make the book well known. Both
the central volumes and supplements are published in SHIRYOUTAIKAN
史料大観 under the dates given above. KAIKI CHUUSHAKU
槐記注釈 (Annotations on KAIKI) have been published by Saeki Futoshi 佐伯太 with excerpts appearing in CHADOU KOTENZENSHUU 茶道古典全集, Vol. 5 and as part of material in NIHON
KOTENBUNGAKUTAIKEI. 日本古典文学大系.
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