ONO TOFU

born 894, Japan died 964, Japan Japanese calligrapher known as one of the Sanseki (Three Brush Traces), in effect the first calligraphers of the age. The others were Fujiwara Yukinari and Fujiwara Sukemasa, and the three perfected the style of writing called jodai-yo (ancient style). Ono was the son of a high government official. His writing, which departed from the traditional Chinese style, may be regarded as the model for subsequent Japanese calligraphy. His extant works include Chisho daishi shigo chokusho (Imperial Rescript on the Posthumous Name for Chisho the Great Teacher), dated 927, owned by the Tokyo National Museum; Byobu jodai (Ancient Folding Screen), a poem dated 928 and owned by the Imperial Household; Gyokusen-cho (Album of the Pure Spring) owned by the Imperial Household; and Haku-shi santai-shi kan.