(b 1265; reg 1287–98; d 1317). Ninety-second emperor of Japan, calligrapher and poet. The second son of Emperor GoFukakusa (reg 1246–60), he abdicated in favour of his son GoFushimi (reg 1298–1301) in 1298 and later retired to a monastery. He was one of the most talented calligraphers among Japanese emperors and indeed one of the outstanding calligraphers of the Kamakura period (1185–1333). Instead of following the then popular calligraphy styles, he emulated those of the 10th-century masters, ONO NO MICHIKAZE and Fujiwara no Sari (see FUJIWARA (ii), (1)), two of the Sanseki (‘three brush traces’; Three Masters). He was regarded as a greater calligrapher than even the celebrated Fujiwara no Kozei (see FUJIWARA, (ii), (2)) of the later part of the Heian period (794–1185). Fushimi’s calligraphy eschewed strong, vigorous strokes and was instead clear, graceful and elegant. He developed a Wayo (native) style, which now bears his name and which differed from the Sesonji style (see JAPAN, §VII, 2(ii)) practised by his court calligrapher, Tsunetada (1247–?1320), in that it referred to styles current in Song-period (960–1279) China. During the Muromachi (1333–1568) and Edo (1600–1868) periods Fushimi’s calligraphy style was popular as an instructional model. Many of Fushimi’s calligraphies are extant in poetry collections, as fragments (gire) of kana (Japanese syllabic) calligraphy in his even and fluid style, for example the Hirosawa-gire (Kyoto, Nishi Honganji) and the Chikugo-gire, and in collections of calligraphies by emperors. His sons GoFushimi, Prince SON’EN and Emperor Hanazono (reg 1308–18) were also noted calligraphers.

• Fushimi, Emperor (reg 1287-98)
  • Japan, §VII, 2(ii)(d): Calligraphy: Early courtly styles, Early Kamakura period
  • Japan, §VII, 2(iii)(a): Calligraphy of the Shoren’in school: Prince Son’en
  • Japan, §VII, 2(iii)(a): Calligraphy of the Shoren’in school: Prince Son’en
  • Son’en