The term Sanpitsu (三筆) or "three brushes" is used in Japanese to refer to a group of three famous Heian period calligraphers:

• Emperor Saga 嵯峨天皇, 786–842.
• Kūkai 空海, 774–835.
• Tachibana no Hayanari, 橘逸勢 c. 782-842.

Later groups of calligraphers were named in imitation of the original Sanpitsu.

Kan'ei Sanpitsu (寛永三筆)

Named for the Kan'ei period in which they flourished:

• Honami Kōetsu 本阿弥光悦, 1558-1637
• Konoe Nobutada 近衛信尹, 1565-1614
• Shōkadō Shōjō 松花堂昭乗, 1584-1639

Ōbaku no Sanpitsu (黄檗三筆)

Zen Chinese calligraphers who worked in Japan.

• Ingen Ryūki, 隱元隆琦 1592-1673
• Mokuan Shōtō,木庵性瑫 1611-1684
• Sokuhi Nyoitsu, 即非如一 1616-1671

Bakumatsu no Sanpitsu (幕末の三筆)

• Ichikawa Beian (市河米庵) 1779-1858
• Nukina Sūō (貫名菘翁) 1778-1863
• Maki Ryōko (巻菱湖) 1777-1843

Meiji no Sanpitsu (明治の三筆)

• Nakabayashi Gochiku (中林梧竹) 1827-1913
• Kusakabe Meikaku (日下部鳴鶴) 1838-1922
• Iwaya Ichiroku (巌谷一六) 1834-1905

Shōwa no Sanpitsu (昭和の三筆)

• Hibino Gohō (日比野五鳳) 1901-1985
• Teshima Yūkei (手島右卿) 1901-1987
• Nishikawa Yasushi (西川寧) 1902-1989

See also

• Sanseki, a similar group of renowned calligraphers

References

• 神田喜一郎,「三筆について」(書道全集 第11巻)(Heibonsha, 1965)