Hamamura Zōroku V: Meiji Seal Carver and Inscriptions for Kōsho
- Zōroku Hamasaki the Fifth and Kōsho
- Who Was Hamamura Zōroku V ? A Master of Modern Japanese Seal Engraving
- How My Ancestor Kōsho Met Hamamura Zōroku V
- What Is Tenkoku ?
- A Timeless Bond Between Teacher and Student, and What the Seal Represents
- 浜村蔵六五世と郊処
- 浜村蔵六五世とは？近代篆刻界の巨匠
- 先祖郊処と蔵六との出会いとその背景
- 篆刻とは
- 時を超えた師弟の絆と、印箋が伝えるもの
Zōroku Hamasaki the Fifth and Kōsho
浜村蔵六五世 (Hamasaki Zōroku the Fifth) was a master seal engraver of the Meiji period.
And a handwritten 印箋 (insen) title by him has been preserved in my family for generations.
The title on the cover was written by Zōroku himself.
The title reads 「郊処印草」(Kōsho Insō).
It means these were the early pieces made by my ancestor 郊処 (Kōsho)before completing his seals.
On the lower left, you see 「蔵六襄題」(Zōroku Jōdai). This indicates that Zōroku personally brushed the title.
(印箋 / insen: special paper used to preserve seal impressions.)
Zōroku’s Gift to My Ancestor
Zōroku created this title for my ancestor Kōsho as a personal gift.
And he wrote it with careful brushwork. A seal was also stamped to certify his authorship.
Zōroku was an influential figure in modern seal engraving. And he produced many significant works.
However, this handwritten title by Zōroku the Fifth has never been released publicly.
So I am presenting it here for the first time.
The seal impressions inside were created by Kōsho.
They are written in old seal script. So many of them are difficult to read accurately.
But I plan to share several examples through photographs.
Hakubun (white-engraved seal) Work
This piece is a 白文（Hakubun：white-engraved seal）.
It was likely carved as a 雅号（gagō）, which is an artist’s pen name often used in calligraphy and seal engraving.
And the strokes are bold. So the characters feel strong and confident.
Shubun (red-engraved seal) Work
This seal is a 朱文（Shubun：red-engraved seal）.
It was carved into the 木口（kiguchi）, the cross-section of a sliced piece of wood.
And it keeps the natural shape of the wood.
The lines are very thin, and the carving is delicate.
Moreover, this refined style connects to the seal that my ancestor later created for 夏目漱石（Natsume Sōseki）.
Who Was Hamamura Zōroku V ? A Master of Modern Japanese Seal Engraving
浜村蔵六五世（Hamamura Zōroku V, 1866–1909） was one of Japan’s leading seal engravers from the late Edo period through the Meiji era.
He studied seal engraving from a young age. And he learned traditional techniques with great care.
He also exchanged ideas with the Chinese seal engraver 呉昌碩（Wu Changshuo）.
And through this connection, he embraced new styles and artistic expressions.
Hamamura Zōroku V respected the beauty of classical tensho script.
But he also pursued free, expressive lines and his own unique compositions.
As a result, his seals hold both strength and elegance.
And his works reveal a distinct artistic worldview that conveys his personality and sensibility.
Moreover, he played a key role in modernizing seal engraving during the Meiji period.
And he influenced many later artists who followed in his path.
How My Ancestor Kōsho Met Hamamura Zōroku V
郊処（Kōsho） and 浜村蔵六五世（Hamamura Zōroku V） were both born in 1866.
So they were the same age.
And they met in 1895, when they were 29.
The connection began when Kōsho visited Zōroku V at 恵林寺（Erinji Temple） in Kōshū, Yamanashi.
Zōroku V was spending the summer there.
And Kōsho asked to study under him.
Later, Kōsho went to Tokyo again to continue studying under his teacher.
And even though they were the same age, he kept returning to Zōroku V to refine his skills.
This determination created a deep bond between them.
What Is Tenkoku ?
The Meaning of Tenkoku and Its Two Aspects
Tenkoku (篆刻) has two meanings: a broad one and a narrow one.
- Broad meaning of Tenkoku
- It refers to the act of carving characters or designs.
- And it includes the carving techniques, the choice of materials, and the planning of the composition.
- Therefore, it covers the entire decision-making process and the full set of skills required to create a seal.
- Narrow meaning of Tenkoku
- It refers to the seal itself, carved in tensho script, as a finished artwork.
- And it means the completed seal surface—the 印面—that is appreciated as a work of art.
The World of Tenkoku in the Meiji and Taishō Periods
During the Meiji and Taishō eras, the world of tenkoku went through major changes.
Tenkoku moved away from seals made only for practical use.
And it expanded into a field appreciated as fine art.
At that time, there were two main movements in the tenkoku community:
- The Conservative School
They valued tradition.
And they preserved classical methods and styles. - The Innovative School
They embraced new techniques and expressions from China.
And they introduced fresh ideas into layout, use of empty space, and choice of materials.
Hamamura Zōroku V belonged to this innovative school.
And through artists like him, tenkoku evolved from a simple stamping tool.
And it grew into an art form that highlights the beauty of characters and shapes.
A Timeless Bond Between Teacher and Student, and What the Seal Represents
Kōsho deeply respected Zōroku V, even though they were the same age.
This respect grew from their encounter at 29 and Zōroku’s return to Tokyo to continue his studies.
The handwritten inscription by Zōroku V on the seal has been passed down to me, his descendant.
Today, it remains a rare and living artifact.
It vividly conveys Meiji-era seal carving, the teacher-student spirit, and the art culture of that time.
Next, I will introduce how Wu Changshuo transformed seal carving.
His innovations later influenced my ancestor Kōsho’s carved plaques.
Discover how my ancestor Kōsho made seals for Soseki：[My Ancestor Kōsho Made Seals for Soseki: A Surprising Connection]
For those who want to learn more about Japanese seals and their history : [A gentle introduction to the history and meaning of Japanese seals]
Japanese of the Day / 今日の日本語
- Word：印箋 (insen) – special paper for preserving seal impressions
- Meaning：印箋 is a type of paper used to beautifully preserve 篆刻 (tenkoku: seal carving) impressions.
It helps keep the details and quality of the carved seal intact. - Example：私は印箋 (insen) に自分の印を押しました。(Watashi wa insen ni jibun no in o oshimashita.)
(I stamped my own seal on the insen.) - Fun Fact：印箋 is often used by collectors and artists in Japan to archive or display seal impressions.
It has been an important tool in Japanese 篆刻 (tenkoku) culture since the Meiji era.
When we follow Meiji-era tenkoku and its master–disciple traditions, we can feel the depth of Japanese culture.
And knowing this background helps your Japanese learning.
In my Japanese Culture Course, the focus is not on “studying” culture in depth.
Instead, we simply talk about Japanese culture together in Japanese.
Would you like to try speaking about culture with me?
◆ Would you like to talk about Japanese culture? ◆
In the Culture Course, you can learn to speak about Japanese culture with me.
浜村蔵六五世と郊処
明治の篆刻家・浜村蔵六五世。その名を表紙に残した印箋が、私の家に伝わっています。
実は、この表紙は浜村蔵六五世本人が書いたものです。
「題字」（タイトル文字）は「郊処印草」とあります。私の先祖郊処の完成する前の作品という意味です。
そして、左下の「蔵六襄題（ぞうろくじょうだい）」という文字は、蔵六本人が書いたという意味です。
蔵六は郊処に作品集の「題字」を、揮毫（きごう・毛筆で書くこと）して贈りました。
それを保証する意味の印章も捺されています。
蔵六は非常に有名な篆刻家で多くの作品を残しています。しかし、この蔵六五世の揮毫は世に出ていないもので、今回初めて公開します。
中の印章は、先祖郊処の作品です。どれも古い篆書体で、正確に読むことは難しいものが多いです。
しかし、今回は、その印章の一部を写真でご紹介しようと思います。
（印箋：篆刻（てんこく）の印影を美しく保存するために使われる専用の用紙）
白文の作品
こちらは白文の印章ですので、どなたかの雅号だと考えられます。
線も太く、しっかりと力強い文字で彫られています。
朱文の作品
こちらは木を輪切りにした「木口」に彫ったものです。
木の形をそのまま使用しています。文字もとても細く繊細な作品です。
こちらの作品は後に制作した夏目漱石の印章に通じるものがあります。
浜村蔵六五世とは？近代篆刻界の巨匠
浜村蔵六五世（1866〜1909）は、幕末から明治にかけて活躍した、日本を代表する篆刻家の一人です。
若い頃から篆刻に親しみ、伝統的な技法を身につけました。
また、中国の篆刻家・呉昌碩（ごしょうせき）との交流を通じて、新しい作風や芸術的な表現を積極的に取り入れました。
蔵六は、古典的な篆書体の美しさを尊重しつつ、自由な線の運びや独自の構成を追求しました。
その結果、作品には力強さと優雅さが同居し、印章を通して作家自身の個性や感性が伝わる独特の世界観が生まれています。
また、明治期の篆刻文化に革新をもたらした人物として、後進の篆刻家たちにも大きな影響を与えました。
先祖郊処と蔵六との出会いとその背景
蔵六と先祖の郊処は1866年に生まれました。同い年でした。
二人が出会ったのは明治28年（1895年）、29歳の時です。
郊処が山梨県甲州市の恵林寺に避暑に来ていた蔵六を訪ね、師事したことが始まりです。
その後、郊処は再び教えを乞うために上京し、蔵六に復学します。
同い年でありながら、自らの技を磨くために師の門を叩き続けた―その覚悟が、深い絆を形づくりました。
篆刻とは
篆刻の意味と二つの側面
広義と狭義の二つの意味があります。
- 広義の篆刻
・文字や図を彫る行為そのもの
・彫り方の技術、印材の選び方、構図の設計などを含む
・印を作るための総合的な判断や技法を指す - 狭義の篆刻
・篆書で彫られた印章や篆刻作品そのもの
・完成した印面、作品として鑑賞される印章や篆刻作品を指す
明治・大正時代の篆刻界
明治時代から大正時代にかけて、篆刻は大きく変化しました。
実務のための印章から、芸術として鑑賞される世界へと広がりました。
この頃の篆刻界には、二つの流れがありました。
- 保守派：伝統を重んじる保守的な立場
- 革新派：中国の新しい技法や表現を取り入れる革新的な立場
革新派は、文字の配置、余白の扱い、印材の選び方などに新しい発想を加えました。
浜村蔵六五世は、革新派の一人です。
こうした変化によって、篆刻は「押すための道具」から「文字と形の美を味わう芸術」へと発展していきました。
時を超えた師弟の絆と、印箋が伝えるもの
郊処の蔵六に対し、同い年でありながら、「29歳での出会い」「上京しての復学」といった強い尊敬がありました。
印箋にある蔵六五世の直筆の題字は、今現在、子孫の私に伝わっています。
この印箋は、明治の篆刻、師弟の精神、そして当時の芸術文化を伝える、貴重な生きた資料です。
次回は、呉昌碩が変えた篆刻の世界を紹介します。
その革新が、私の先祖郊処の篆刻額へとつながっていきます。
先祖の郊処が漱石のために作った印—驚きのつながり：[My Ancestor Kōsho Made Seals for Soseki: A Surprising Connection]
印章や歴史について知りたい方はこちらをご覧ください：[A gentle introduction to the history and meaning of Japanese seals]
