National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

Emperor Gofukakusa (1243-1304) writes his son Emperor Fushimi (1265-1317) in 1292 (Shoo 5) to enquire about the moving of the sacred tree (J., shinboku) of Kasuga Shrine and the tendencies on Mount Hiei. At the time, Gofukakusa had already retired and was controlling the throne of his son as a cloistered emperor.The petition involving the Southern Court and Mount Hiei began in 1291 (Shoo 4) and continued until the second month of the following year, causing great confusion in the Imperial Court. Emperor Gofukakusa was fifty years of age at the time he brushed this missive.