This is a letter from Jianmen Miaoshen (?-1249=?) to En’ni (1202-80), the founder of Tofuku-ji Temple. It informs the death of Wuzhun Shifan, who was their common master, and states that Wuzhun on his deathbed entrusted En’ni with the publication of his sayings.
This not only shows the background of Wuzhun Shifan’s will and the compilation of his sayings, but is also a valuable document that conveys En’ni’s position among Wuzhun’s disciples and the close relationship between Jianmen Miaoshen and En’ni. From the red rectangular seal “Fumon-in” stamped on the paper and the contents of the entry in Kogetsu Sogan’s “Bokuseki no Utsushi” (Copy of Calligraphy) dated 1620, it is known that this was once handed down to Tofuku-ji Temple and Seisen-ji Temple.

Formerly owned by famous Japanese collector, Masuda Don’noh.

Publications
*Birankan, Tokiwayama Bunko, 1954 (see commentary by Honan Tayama)
*Hibai Yoko – Selected Catalogue from the Tokiwayama Bunko, The Tokiwayama Foundation, 1967 (see commentary by Hisao Sugahara)
*Treasures of Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation – Selected Masterpieces: Calligraphy and Ink Paintings, Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation,2003 (see commentary by Noriko Takahashi)
*Selected Masterpieces from the Treasures of Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation – Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation, Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation,2023 (see commentary by Katsunori Mutobe)