Sanpitsu

The term Sanpitsu (三筆) or "three brushes" is used in Japanese to refer to a group of three famous Heian period calligraphers:


 * Emperor Saga 嵯峨天皇, 786–842.
 * Kūkai 空海, 774–835.
 * Tachibana no Hayanari, 橘逸勢 c. 782-842.

Later groups of calligraphers were named in imitation of the original Sanpitsu.

Kan'ei Sanpitsu (寛永三筆)
Named for the Kan'ei period in which they flourished:


 * Honami Kōetsu 本阿弥光悦, 1558-1637
 * Konoe Nobutada 近衛信尹, 1565-1614
 * Shōkadō Shōjō 松花堂昭乗, 1584-1639

Ōbaku no Sanpitsu (黄檗三筆)
Zen Chinese calligraphers who worked in Japan.
 * Ingen Ryūki, 隱元隆琦 1592-1673
 * Mokuan Shōtō,木庵性瑫 1611-1684
 * Sokuhi Nyoitsu, 即非如一 1616-1671

Bakumatsu no Sanpitsu (幕末の三筆)

 * Ichikawa Beian (市河米庵) 1779-1858
 * Nukina Sūō (貫名菘翁) 1778-1863
 * Maki Ryōko (巻菱湖) 1777-1843

Meiji no Sanpitsu (明治の三筆)

 * Nakabayashi Gochiku (中林梧竹) 1827-1913
 * Kusakabe Meikaku (日下部鳴鶴) 1838-1922
 * Iwaya Ichiroku (巌谷一六) 1834-1905

Shōwa no Sanpitsu (昭和の三筆)

 * Hibino Gohō (日比野五鳳) 1901-1985
 * Teshima Yūkei (手島右卿) 1901-1987
 * Nishikawa Yasushi (西川寧) 1902-1989