Ono no Michikaze or Ono no Tōfū was a prominent Shodōka who lived in the Heian period. One of the so-called Sanseki 三跡, along with Fujiwara no Sukemasa and Fujiwara no Yukinari, Tōfū is considered the founder of Japanese style calligraphy or wayōshodō.
Life
Michikaze was born in the present Kasugai, Aichi prefecture, as the grandson of a courtier-poet, Ono no Takamura. He was a government official, a poet and a calligrapher. He provided highly distinguished calligraphic services for three emperors during his career: Daigo, Suzaku and Murakami. Michikaze's fame permitted him to serve, at the age of twenty-seven, in the Seiryoden, the residential quarters of the imperial court. As a recognition of his high skill, Emperor Daigo offered the Buddhist monk Kanken two volumes of Michikaze's works in 927, and urged him to take them with him on a voyage to China, and commend Michikaze’s calligraphic achievements to the Chinese. Michikaze had lost much of his sight by the time he died.
Works
Michikaze took the first step in Japanizing the art of calligraphy, imported from China around the 5th century. His works were slightly influenced by the style of the legendary 4th-century Chinese calligrapherWang Xizhi, however, he added his own refinements, that resulted in a softer feel with more freedom of movement than was common under the strictures of Chinese calligraphy. He created the Japanese style calligraphy that was later refined by other two masters, Fujiwara no Sukemasa and Fujiwara no Yukinari. Wayō was accredited and practiced, as a pure Japanese art form, until the mid-19th century. Michikaze showed great diligence in his works, which resulted in grandiose character forms, and powerful lines. None of Michikaze's kana calligraphy are extant. A number of extant kanji works are believed to be by Michikaze, but only a few are positively attributed. One of the well-known works ascribed without much evidence to Michikaze is a draft for an inscription on a byoubu now mounted as a handscroll in the Tokyo Imperial Household collection. It was executed in semi-cursive script, and consisted of ten poems by Michikaze's contemporary Oe no Asatsuna. The collection also has his other masterpieces, like the Gyokusen-Jo handscroll, which are poems by a Tang poet. Michikaze also was attributed to many kohitsu-gire of the Heian era, among which a scroll containing forty-nine waka poems from the twelfth volume – "Poems of Love" – of the early-Heian poetry anthology, Kokin Wakashū. Among his last works are eleven letters, in one of which he bemoans the evanescence of life.
Legend
Michikaze became well known due to his depiction in Hanafuda cards. As the story goes, one day when Michikaze was feeling inadequate about his calligraphy he took a walk outside in the rain. Seeing a frog trying to jump on a willow branch, again and again missing its mark, he thought to himself "Stupid frog! No matter how many times you try you will never be able to reach the willow". Upon thinking this, the willow curved in a big breeze allowing the frog to jump onto the willow. Michikaze then realized "I myself am the stupid one. The frog created this chance with his determination. Up until now I haven't been as diligent as this frog". This story made him famous during the Edo period and earned him his place on the willow set in Hanafuda cards.
Legacy
On 20 October 2000, an 80 yen "Willow and frog" postal stamp was issued, depicting Michikaze watching a leaping frog.
There is a shrine to his spirit in Kyoto, where his divine soul is considered to be protecting the women of the region in maternity.
Ono no Michikaze is depicted on the "rainman" of the traditional Japanese playing cards Hanafuda.
