When Japanese poets first encountered Chinese poetry, it was at its peak in the Tang Dynasty and Japanese poets were completely fascinated. Yosa Buson, or Yosa no Buson (与謝蕪村 1716 &ndash December 25, 1784) was a Japanese Poet and painter from the Chinese Poetry is the most highly regarded literary genre in China. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by It took them several hundred years to digest the foreign impact, make it a part of their culture and merge it with their literary tradition in their mother tongue, and begin to develop the diversity of their native poetry. For example, in the Tale of Genji both kinds of poetry are frequently mentioned. is a classic work of Japanese literature attributed to the Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu in the early eleventh century around the peak of the Heian Period (Since much poetry in Japan was written in the Chinese language, it is perhaps more accurate to speak of Japanese-language poetry. )
A new trend came in the middle of the 19th Century. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Since then the major forms of Japanese poetry have been tanka (new name for waka), haiku and shi.
Nowadays the main forms of Japanese poetry can be divided into experimental poetry and poetry that seeks to revive traditional ways. Poets writing in tanka, haiku and shi move in separate planes and seldom write poetry other than in their specific chosen form, although some active poets are eager to collaborate with poets in other genres.
Important collections are the Man'yōshū, Kokin Wakashū and Shin Kokin Wakashū. is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry, compiled sometime in the Nara or early Heian periods The anthology is one of the most revered of Japan's The, commonly abbreviated as, is an early Heian waka Imperial anthology, conceived by Emperor Uda (r The, also known in abbreviated form as the or even simply the Shin Kokin, is the eighth in a series of 21 imperial anthologies of waka poetry compiled by the Japanese court
Contents |
Ancient
Poems in Kojiki and Nihonshoki
The oldest written work in Japanese literature is Kojiki in the 8th century, in which Ō no Yasumaro (太安万侶) recorded Japanese mythology and history as recited by Hieda no Are (稗田阿礼), to whom it was handed down by his ancestors. Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agriculture-based Folk religion. Many of the poetic pieces recorded by the Kojiki were perhaps transmitted from the time the Japanese had no writing. The Nihonshoki, the oldest history of Japan which was finished two years later than the Kojiki, also contains many poetic pieces. The, sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. These were mostly not long and had no fixed forms. The first poem documented in both books was attributed to a kami (god), named Susanoo (須佐之男), the younger brother of Amaterasu. or is in Japanese mythology a sun goddess and perhaps the most important Shinto. When he married Princess Kushinada in Izumo province, the kami made an uta, or waka, a poem. Izumo (Japanese 出雲国 Izumo-no-kuni) was an old province of Japan which today consists of the eastern part of Shimane prefecture in
- 八雲立つ 出雲八重垣 妻籠みに 八重垣作る その八重垣を
- Yakumo tatsu / Izumo yaegaki / Tsuma-gomi ni / Yaegaki tsukuru / Sono yaegaki wo
This is the oldest waka (poem written in Japanese) and hence poetry was later praised as having been founded by a kami, a divine creation.
The two books shared many of the same or similar pieces but Nihonshoki contained newer ones because it recorded later affairs (up till the reign of Emperor Temmu) than Kojiki. (c 631 - October 1 686) was the 40th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession Themes of waka in the books were diverse, covering love, sorrow, satire, war cries, praise of victory, riddles and so on. Many works in Kojiki were anonymous. Some were attributed to kami, emperors and empresses, nobles, generals, commoners and sometimes enemies of the court. Most of these works are considered collectively as 'works of the people', even where attributed to someone, such as the kami Susanoo. Japan
Early Man'yōshū poets (Vol. I-III)
The oldest poetic anthology of waka is the 20 volume Man'yōshū. is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry, compiled sometime in the Nara or early Heian periods The anthology is one of the most revered of Japan's Probably finished in the early part of the Heian period, it gathered ancient works. The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The order of its sections is roughly chronological. Most of the works in the Man'yōshū have a fixed form today called choka and tanka. See Waka and Tanka (disambiguation for other usages Waka (和歌 or Yamato uta is a genre of Japanese poetry But earlier works, especially in Volume I, lacked such fixed form and were attributed to Emperor Yūryaku. (c 418 - Seventh Day of the Eight Month of 479 ( Kibi) was the 21st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession
The Man'yōshū begins with a waka without fixed form. It is both a love song for an unknown girl whom the poet met by chance and a ritual song praising the beauty of the land. It is worthy of being attributed to an emperor and today is used in court ritual.
The first three sections contain mostly the works of poets from the middle of the 7th century to the early part of the 8th century. Significant poets among them were Nukata no Ōkimi and Kakinomoto Hitomaro. (also known as Princess Nukada was a Japanese poet of the Asuka period. Kakinomoto no Hitomaro (柿本 人麻呂 c 662 - 710 was a Japanese poet and aristocrat of the late Asuka period. Kakinomoto Hitomaro was not only the greatest poet in those early days and one of the most significant in the Man'yōshū, he rightly has a place as one of the most outstanding poets in Japanese literature.
Chinese influence
Chinese literature was introduced into Japan in the 7th century. Chinese literature extends back thousands of years from the earliest recorded dynastic court Archives to the mature fictional Novel that arose during the Ming Dynasty The 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. It took almost a half century before it began to influence Japanese literature. In the court of Emperor Temmu some nobles made attempts to recite Chinese poetry. (c 631 - October 1 686) was the 40th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession Chinese Poetry is the most highly regarded literary genre in China. Chinese literacy was a sign of education and most high courtiers wrote poetry in Chinese. Later these works were collected in the Kaifūsō, one of the earliest anthologies of poetry in Japan, edited in the early Heian period. is the oldest collection of Chinese poetry ( kanshi) written by Japanese poets Thanks to this book the death poem of Prince Ōtsu is still extant today. Death poem by Kuroki Hiroshijpg|frame|Death poem by Kuroki Hiroshi, a Japanese soldier who died in a submarine accident on September 7 1944]] A is a Poem written near the Influence Japanese poet and scholar Shinobu Orikuchi featured a fictionalised version of Prince Ōtsu in his novel Sisha no Sho ( The Book of the Dead
The strong influence of Chinese poetics may be seen in Kakyō Hyōshiki. is a text on Japanese poetics written by Fujiwara no Hamanari. In the 772 text, Fujiwara no Hamanari attempts to apply phonetic rules for Chinese poetry to Japanese poetry. Events By Place Europe Charlemagne starts fighting the Saxons and the Frisians; Saxony is subdued and converted son of Maro, was a Japanese noble and Poet of Nara period. According to the genealogy book Sonpi Bunmyaku, his mother was Uneme of Yakami
Nara period poets
In 710 the Japanese capital moved from Fujiwara (today's Asuka, Nara) to Nara and the Nara period (710-794) began. For the area code see Area code 710. For the Los Angeles-area freeway see Interstate 710. This article is about the village of. For articles related to the capital sites and ruins of, see Asuka Yamato. is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. Events By Place Asia Kyoto becomes the Japanese capital ending the Nara period, and beginning the Heian period. It was the period when Chinese influence reached its culmination. Todai-ji was established and the Great Buddha was created under the order of Emperor Shōmu. is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Emperor Shōmu (聖武天皇 Shōmu Tennō) (701 – June 4, 756) was the 45th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional The significant waka poets in this period were Otomo no Tabito, Yamanoue no Okura, and Yamabe no Akahito. Ōtomo no Tabito (大伴旅人 c 662-731 was a Japanese poet best known as the father of Ōtomo no Yakamochi, who contributed to compiling the Man'yōshū Yamanoue no Okura (山上 憶良 Yamanoue no Okura 660 - 733 was a Japanese Poet, the best known for his poems of children and commoners Yamabe no Akahito (山部赤人 or 山邊赤人 (700 - 736 was a poet of the Yamato period in Japan. The Man'yōshū included also many female poets who mainly wrote love poems. The poets of the Man'yōshū were aristocrats who were born in Nara but sometimes lived or traveled in other provinces as bureaucrats of the emperor. These poets wrote down their impressions of travel and expressed their emotion for lovers or children. Sometimes their poems criticized the political failure of the government or tyranny of local officials. Yamanoue no Okura wrote a choka, A Dialogue of two Poormen (貧窮問答歌, Hinkyū mondōka); in this poem two poor men lamented their severe lives of poverty. See Waka and Tanka (disambiguation for other usages Waka (和歌 or Yamato uta is a genre of Japanese poetry One hanka is as follows:
- 世の中を 憂しとやさしと おもへども 飛び立ちかねつ 鳥にしあらねば
- Yononaka wo / Ushi to yasashi to / Omo(h)e domo / Tobitachi kanetsu / Tori ni shi arane ba
- I feel the life is / sorrowful and unbearable / though / I can't flee away / since I am not a bird.
The Man'yōshū contains not only poems of aristocrats but also those of nameless ordinary people. These poems are called Yomibito shirazu, poems whose author is unknown. Among them there is a specific style of waka called Azuma-uta, waka written in the Eastern dialect. Azuma, meaning the East, designated the eastern provinces roughly corresponding to Kantō and occasionally Tōhoku. The is a Geographical area of Honshū, the largest Island of Japan. The is a geographical area of Japan. Tōhoku is Japanese for "northeast" and the Tōhoku region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshū Those poems were filled with rural flavors. There was a specific style among Azuma-uta, called Sakimori uta, soldiers' waka. They were mainly waka by drafted soldiers at leaving home. These soldiers were drafted in the eastern provinces and were forced to work as guards in Kyūshū for several years. or Kyushu is the third-largest Island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Sometimes their poetry expressed nostalgia for their far homeland.
Waka in the early Heian period
It is thought the Man'yōshū reached its final form, the one we know today, very early in the Heian period. is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry, compiled sometime in the Nara or early Heian periods The anthology is one of the most revered of Japan's There are strong grounds for believing that Otomo no Yakamochi was the final editor but some documents claim further editing was done in the later period by other poets including Sugawara no Michizane. (c 718 &ndash October 5, 785) was a Japanese statesman and waka poet in the Nara period. Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真 845 - March 26, 903) also known as Kan Shōjō (菅丞相 a grandson of Sugawara no Kiyotomo
Though there was a strong inclination towards Chinese poetry, some eminent waka poets were active in the early Heian period, including the six best waka poets. The six most well known Waka poets (六歌仙 Rokkasen) were selected poets of Waka in the early Heian period.
The culmination of kanshi
In the early Heian period Chinese poetry or kanshi (漢詩, Chinese poetry) was most the popular style of poetry among Japanese aristocrats. Chinese Poetry is the most highly regarded literary genre in China. Some poets like Kūkai studied in China and were fluent in Chinese. Kūkai (ja 空海 or also known posthumously as Kōbō-Daishi (ja 弘法大師 774&ndash835 CE was a Japanese monk, Scholar China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Others like Sugawara no Michizane had grown up in Japan but understood Chinese well. Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真 845 - March 26, 903) also known as Kan Shōjō (菅丞相 a grandson of Sugawara no Kiyotomo When they hosted foreign diplomats, they communicated not orally but in writing, using kanji or Chinese characters. are the Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system along with Hiragana (ひらがな 平仮名 Katakana A Chinese character, also known as a Han character ( is a Logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi Japanese ( In that period, Chinese poetry in China had reached one of its greatest flowerings. Major Chinese poets of the Tang dynasty like Li Po (李白) were their contemporaries and their works were well known to the Japanese. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by Some who went to China for study or diplomacy made the acquaintance of these major poets. The most popular styles of kanshi were in 5 or 7 syllables in 4 or 8 lines, with very strict rules of rhyme. This article is about the poetic technique For the form of ice see Rime ice. Japanese poets became skilled in those rules and produced much good poetry. Some long poems with lines of 5 or 7 syllables were also produced. These, when chanted, were referred to as shigin (詩吟) - a practise which continues today. Shigin (詩吟 is a form of Japanese poetry, which is usually chanted either individually or within a group
Emperor Saga himself was proficient at kanshi. Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇 Saga-tennō) (786&ndash842 was the 52nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession He ordered the compilation of three anthologies of kanshi. These were the first of the imperial anthologies, a tradition which continued till the Muromachi period. The Muromachi period ( Japanese: 室町時代 Muromachi-jidai, also known as the Muromachi era, the Muromachi bakufu, the Ashikaga era
Kokin Wakashū
In the middle of the Heian period Waka revived with the compilation of the Kokin Wakashū or Kokinshū (古今(和歌)集 , "collection of ancient and modern poems"). The, commonly abbreviated as, is an early Heian waka Imperial anthology, conceived by Emperor Uda (r It was edited on the order of Emperor Daigo. Emperor Daigo (醍醐天皇 Daigo-tennō) ( January 18, 885 &ndash October 23, 930) was the 60th emperor of About 1,000 waka, mainly from the late Nara period till the contemporary times, were anthologized by five waka poets in the court including Kino Tsurayuki who wrote the "Preface in Kana" (Kanajo). was a Japanese author, Poet and courtier of the Heian period.
The Kana preface to Kokin Wakashū was the second earliest expression of literary theory and criticism in Japan (the earliest was by Kūkai). Kūkai (ja 空海 or also known posthumously as Kōbō-Daishi (ja 弘法大師 774&ndash835 CE was a Japanese monk, Scholar Kūkai's literary theory was not influential, but Kokin Wakashū set the types of waka and hence other genres which would develop from waka.
The collection is divided into twenty parts, reflecting older models such as the Man'yōshū and various Chinese anthologies. is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry, compiled sometime in the Nara or early Heian periods The anthology is one of the most revered of Japan's The organisation of topics is however different from all earlier models, and was followed by all later official collections, although some collections like the Kin'yō Wakashū and Shika Wakashū reduced the number of parts to ten. The, sometimes abbreviated as Kin'yōshū is an Imperial anthology of Japanese waka whose two drafts were finished in 1124 and 1127. abbreviated as Shikashū, is an Imperial anthology of Japanese waka, compiled c The parts of the Kokin Wakashū are ordered as follows: Parts 1-6 covered the four seasons, followed by congratulatory poems, poetry at partings, and travel poems. The last ten sections included poetry on the 'names of things', love, laments, occasional poems, miscellaneous verse, and finally traditional and ceremonial poems from the Bureau of Poetry.
The compilers included the name of the author of each poem, and the topic (題 dai) or inspiration of the poem, if known. Major poets of the Kokin Wakashū include Ariwara Narihira, Ono no Komachi, Henjō and Fujiwara no Okikaze, apart from the compilers themselves. Ariwara no Narihira (在原業平 825 - July 9, 880) was a Japanese waka Poet and Aristocrat. Ono no Komachi (小野 小町 or おののこまち (c 825 &mdash c Henjo (遍昭 or 遍照 816 - February 12, 890) was a Japanese waka Poet and Buddhist Priest. Fujiwara no Okikaze (dates unknown Japanese 藤原興風 was a middle Heian waka poet and Japanese nobleman Inclusion in any imperial collection, and particularly the Kokin Wakashū, was a great honour.
Influence of Kokin Wakashū
The Kokin Wakashū is the first of the Nijūichidaishū (二十一代集), the 21 collections of Japanese poetry compiled at Imperial request. The are Japan's 21 imperial collections of Japanese poetry The collection consists of the following texts The are the first 8 collections in which the first 3 collections are the. It was the most influential realization of the ideas of poetry at the time, dictating the form and format of Japanese poetry until the late nineteenth century. The primacy of poems about the seasons pioneered by the Kokin Wakashū continues even today in the haiku tradition. is a form of Japanese poetry. Previously called The Japanese preface by Ki no Tsurayuki is also the beginning of Japanese criticism as distinct from the far more prevalent Chinese poetics in the literary circles of its day. (The anthology also included a traditional Chinese preface authored by Ki no Tomonori. ) The idea of including old as well as new poems was another important innovation, one which was widely adopted in later works, both in prose and verse. The poems of the Kokin Wakashū were ordered temporally; the love poems, for instance, depict the progression and fluctuations of a courtly love-affair. This association of one poem to the next marks this anthology as the ancestor of the renga and haikai traditions. is a form of Japanese collaborative Poetry. A renga consists of at least two or stanzas often many more
Imperial anthologies of Waka
After Shin Kokin Wakashū ordered and edited by Emperor Go-Toba, eight waka anthologies were compiled under imperial edict. The, also known in abbreviated form as the or even simply the Shin Kokin, is the eighth in a series of 21 imperial anthologies of waka poetry compiled by the Japanese court ( August 6, 1180 &ndash March 28, 1239) was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession These anthologies reflected the taste of aristocrats and were considered the ideal of waka in each period.
From the late ancient to Middle
Waka in the life of Kuge
In ancient times, it was a custom to exchange waka instead of letters in prose. See Waka and Tanka (disambiguation for other usages Waka (和歌 or Yamato uta is a genre of Japanese poetry Sometimes improvised waka were used in daily conversation in high society. In particular, the exchange of waka was common between lovers. Reflecting this custom, five of the twenty volumes of the Kokin Wakashū (or Kokinshū) gathered waka for love. The, commonly abbreviated as, is an early Heian waka Imperial anthology, conceived by Emperor Uda (r In the Heian period the lovers would exchange waka in the morning when lovers parted at the woman's home. The exchanged waka were called Kinuginu (後朝), because it was thought the man wanted to stay with his lover and when the sun rose he had almost no time to don his clothes which had been laid out in place of a mattress (as was the custom in those days). Soon, writing and reciting Waka became a part of aristocratic culture. People recited a piece of appropriate waka freely to imply something on an occasion. In the Pillow Book it is written that a consort of Emperor Murakami memorized over 1,000 waka in Kokin Wakashū with their description. is a book of observations and musings recorded by Sei Shōnagon during her time as court lady to Empress Sadako during the 990s and early 1000s in Heian Emperor Murakami (村上天皇 Murakami-tennō) ( June 2, 926 &ndash May 25, 967) was the 62nd emperor of
Uta-ai, ceremonial waka recitation contests, developed in the middle of the Heian period. The custom began in the reign of Emperor Uda, the father of Emperor Daigo who ordered the compilation of the Kokin Wakashū. was the 59th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession Emperor Daigo (醍醐天皇 Daigo-tennō) ( January 18, 885 &ndash October 23, 930) was the 60th emperor of It was 'team combat' on proposed themes grouped in similar manner to the grouping of poems in the Kokin Wakashū. Representatives of each team recited a waka according to their theme and the winner of the round won a point. The team with the higher overall score won the contest. Both winning poet and team received a certain prize. Holding Utaai was expensive and possible only for Emperors or very high ranked kuge.
The size of Uta-ai inceased. Uta-ai were recorded with hundreds of rounds. Uta-ai motivated the refinement of waka technique but also made waka formalistic and artificial. Poets were expected to create a spring waka in winter or recite a poem of love or lamentation without real situations.
Roei style
Roei was a favored style of reciting poetical works at that time. It was a way of reciting in voice, with relatively slow and long tones. Not whole poetic pieces but a part of classics were quoted and recited by individuals usually followed by a chorus. Fujiwara no Kinto compiled Wakan roeishu (Sino-Japanese Anthology for Roei) from Japanese and Chinese poetry works written for roei. Fujiwara no Kintō (藤原公任 (966-1041 also known as Shijō-dainagon, was a poet admired by his contemporaries and a court bureaucrat of the Heian period. One or two lines were quoted in Wakan roeishu and those quotations were grouped into themes like Spring, Travel, Celebration.
Age of Nyobo or court ladies
Emperor Ichijō and courts of his empresses, concubines and other noble ladies were a big pool of poets as well as men of the courts. Emperor Ichijō (一条天皇 Ichijō-tennō) ( July 15, 980 - July 25, 1011) was the 66th emperor of Japan
The Pillow Book and Tale of Genji, from the early 11th century, provide us with examples of the life of aristocrats in the court of Emperor Ichijō and his empresses. is a book of observations and musings recorded by Sei Shōnagon during her time as court lady to Empress Sadako during the 990s and early 1000s in Heian is a classic work of Japanese literature attributed to the Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu in the early eleventh century around the peak of the Heian Period Murasaki Shikibu wrote over 3,000 tanka for her Tale of Genji in the form of waka her characters wrote in the story. Murasaki Shikibu ( 紫[[wikt 式|式]] 部; c 973&ndashc 1014 or 1025 or Lady Murasaki as she is sometimes known in English was a Japanese In the story most of those waka were created as an exchange of letters or a conversation. Many classic works of both waka and kanshi were quoted by the nobles. Among those classic poets, the Chinese Tang-dynasty poet Bai Juyi (Po Chü-i) had a great influence on the culture of the middle Heian period. Life Bai Juyi was born in Xinzheng to a poor but scholarly family Bai Juyi was quoted by both The Pillow Book and Tale of Genji, and his A Song of unending Sorrow (長恨歌), whose theme was a tragic love between the Chinese Emperor and his concubine, inspired Murasaki Shikibu to imagine tragic love affairs in the Japanese imperial court in her Tale of Genji.
Poetry in the period of cloistered rule
In the period of cloistered rule, the 12th century, some new movements of poetry appeared. The Insei system (院政 or cloistered rule, was a specific form of government in Japan, in which the Emperor abdicated but kept exerting power and influence First a new form called Imayō (今様, modern style) emerged. Imayō consists of four lines in 8-5 syllables. Usually it was accompanied by music and dance. Female dancer Shirabyoshi danced to the accompaniment of Imayō. Major works were compiled into the anthology Ryojinhisho (梁塵秘抄).
Some new trends appeared in waka. See Waka and Tanka (disambiguation for other usages Waka (和歌 or Yamato uta is a genre of Japanese poetry There were two opposite trends: an inclination to the contemporary, modern style and on the other hand a revival of the traditional style. Both trends had their schools and won the honor to compile imperial anthologies of waka. Fujiwara no Shunzei and his son Fujiwara no Teika were the leaders of the latter school. (b 1114 d 22 December 1204 CE) was a noted Japanese poet and Nobleman, son of Fujiwara no Toshitada. Fujiwara no Teika (藤原定家 also known as Fujiwara no Sadaie or Sada-ie, (1162 &ndash September 26 1241 was a Japanese waka poet
Also in this period for the first time renga were included in the imperial anthologies of waka. is a form of Japanese collaborative Poetry. A renga consists of at least two or stanzas often many more At that time, renga was considered a variant of waka. The renga included were waka created by two persons only, quite unlike the later style which featured many stanzas.
Shin Kokin Wakashū'
In the late period rule by cloistered Emperors, or the early Kamakura period, Emperor Go-Toba, who had abdicated, ordered the compilation of the eighth imperial anthology of waka, the Shin Kokin Wakashū. The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 by the first Kamakura Shogun ( August 6, 1180 &ndash March 28, 1239) was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession The, also known in abbreviated form as the or even simply the Shin Kokin, is the eighth in a series of 21 imperial anthologies of waka poetry compiled by the Japanese court Go-Toba himself joined the team of editors. Other editors included Fujiwara no Teika and Kamo no Chōmei. Kamo no Chōmei (鴨長明 1155 &ndash 1216 was a Japanese author, Poet ( waka) and Essayist.
Fujiwara no Teika
- Works of Teika as a waka poet, critic, scribe and editor
- Two lines of descendants of Teika - Reizei family
- Other poets in those days
- Poetry in the Kamakura period
- Poetry in the Nanbokucho period - Renga development
Tsukubashu - imperial anthology of renga Renga poets, critics and theories Development of shikimoku (renga rules) Sōgi Haikai renga appears - as a parody of renga Shinseninutusukbashu Noh play and poetry Influence from waka and other poetry Noh play reading as a verse
- Poetry in the Sengoku period
Renga and Waka
Pre-modern
In the Pre-modern or Edo period (1602-1869) some new styles of poetry developed. Fujiwara no Teika (藤原定家 also known as Fujiwara no Sadaie or Sada-ie, (1162 &ndash September 26 1241 was a Japanese waka poet was a Japanese Poet. He came from a humble family from the province of Kii or Ōmi, and died in Hakone on September 1 1502 Year 1869 ( MDCCCLXIX) is a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year One of greatest and most influential styles was renku, (also known as haikai no renga, or haikai), emerging from renga in the medieval period. is a form of Japanese collaborative Poetry. A renga consists of at least two or stanzas often many more Matsuo Bashō was a great haikai master and had a wide influence on his contemporaries and later generations. was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan During his lifetime Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form today Bashō was also a prominent writer of haibun, a combination of prose and haiku. Haibun (俳文 haikai writings) is a combination of brief prose and Haiku, often autobiographical or written in the form of a travelogue is a form of Japanese poetry. Previously called
The tradition of collaboration between painters and poets had a beneficial influence on poetry in the middle Edo period. In Kyoto there were some artists who were simultaneously poets and painters. Painters of the Shujo school were known as good poets. Among such poet-painters the most significant was Yosa Buson. Yosa Buson, or Yosa no Buson (与謝蕪村 1716 &ndash December 25, 1784) was a Japanese Poet and painter from the Buson began his career as a painter but went on to become a master of renku, too. He left many paintings accompanied by his own haiku poems. Such combination of haiku with painting is known as haiga. Haiga (俳画 is a style of Japanese painting based on the Aesthetics of Haikai, from which Haiku poetry derives which often
Waka underwent a revival, too, in relation to kokugaku, the study of Japanese classics. See Waka and Tanka (disambiguation for other usages Waka (和歌 or Yamato uta is a genre of Japanese poetry Kokugaku ( Kyūjitai: 國學/ Shinjitai: 国学 lit National study was a school of Japanese philology and philosophy originating during the Tokugawa Kyōka (mad song), a type of satirical waka was also popular.
In the late Edo period, a master of haikai, Karai Senryū made an anthology. His style became known as senryū, after his pseudonym. Senryū (川柳 literally 'river willow' is a Japanese form of short Poetry similar to Haiku in construction three lines with 17 or fewer " on Senryū is a style of satirical poetry whose motifs are taken from daily life in 5-7-5 syllables. Originally senryū formed the former part of kyoka whose latter part was provided by a haikai master. That was not highly artistic but relied on a sort of wordplay called maekuzuke (adding a former part). Anthologies of senryū in the Edo period collect many 'maeku' or senryū made by ordinary amateur senryū poets adding in front of the latter 7-7 part written by a master. It was a sort of poetry contest and the well written senryū by amateurs were awarded by the master and other participants.
Modern
A new wave came from the West when Japan was introduced to European and American poetry. This poetry belonged to a very different tradition and was regarded by Japanese poets as a form without any boundaries. Shintai-shi (New form poetry) or Jiyu-shi (Freestyle poetry) emerged at this time. They still relied on a traditional pattern of 5-7 syllable patterns, but were strongly influenced by the forms and motifs of Western poetry. Later, in the Taisho era, some poets began to write their poetry in a much looser metric. In contrast with this development, Kanshi slowly went out of fashion and was seldom written. As a result, Japanese men of letters lost the traditional background of Chinese literary knowledge. Originally the word shi meant poetry, especially Chinese poetry, but today it means mainly modern-style poetry in Japanese. Shi is also known as kindai-shi (modern poetry). Since World War II, poets and critics have used the name gendai-shi (contemporary poetry). This includes the poets Kusano Shimpei, Tanikawa Shuntaro and Ishigaki Rin. (born December 15, 1931) is a Japanese Poet and Translator. He is one of the most widely read and highly regarded of living Japanese poets Ishigaki Rin (石垣りん February 21, 1920 - December 26, 2004) was a Japanese poet.
As for the traditional styles such as waka and haiku, the early modern era was also a time of renovation. Yosano Tekkan and later Masaoka Shiki revived those forms. was the Pen-name of Yosano Hiroshi a Japanese author and poet active in late Meiji period, Taishō period and early Shōwa was the Pen-name of a Japanese author, Poet, Literary critic, and Journalist in Meiji period Japan The words haiku and tanka were both coined by Shiki. They laid the basis for development of this poetry in the modern world. They introduced new motifs, rejected some old authorities in this field, recovered forgotten classics, and published magazines to express their opinions and lead their disciples. This magazine-based activity by leading poets is a major feature of Japanese poetry even today.
Some poets, including Yosano Akiko, Ishikawa Takuboku, Hagiwara Sakutaro wrote in many styles: they used both traditional forms like waka and haiku and new style forms. was a Japanese poet. He died of Tuberculosis on April 13, 1912. was a writer of free-style verse active in Taishō and early Showa period Japan. Most Japanese poets, however, generally write in a single form of poetry.
Contemporary
Important Poets (premodern)
- Kakinomoto no Hitomaro
- Ariwara no Narihira
- Ono no Komachi
- Izumi Shikibu
- Saigyo
- Fujiwara no Teika
- Matsuo Bashō
- Yosa no Buson
- Kobayashi Issa
Important poets (Modern)
- Yosano Akiko
- Masaoka Shiki
- Taneda Santōka
- Takamura Kotaro
- Ishikawa Takuboku
- Hagiwara Sakutaro
- Kenji Miyazawa
- Noguchi Yonejiro
- Tanikawa Shuntaro
- Kitahara Hakushu
Important collections and works
For haiku in Japanese, the largest anthology is the 12 volume Bunruihaiku-zenshū (Classified Collection of Haiku) compiled by Masaoka Shiki, but completed after his death, which collects haiku not only by seasonal theme but also by sub-theme. Kakinomoto no Hitomaro (柿本 人麻呂 c 662 - 710 was a Japanese poet and aristocrat of the late Asuka period. Ariwara no Narihira (在原業平 825 - July 9, 880) was a Japanese waka Poet and Aristocrat. Ono no Komachi (小野 小町 or おののこまち (c 825 &mdash c was a mid Heian period Japanese poet She is a member of the. She was the contemporary of Murasaki Shikibu and Akazome Emon at the court of Saigyō Hōshi ( Japanese: 西行法師 (1118 - 1190 was a famous Japanese Poet of the late Heian and early Kamakura period Fujiwara no Teika (藤原定家 also known as Fujiwara no Sadaie or Sada-ie, (1162 &ndash September 26 1241 was a Japanese waka poet was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan During his lifetime Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form today Yosa Buson, or Yosa no Buson (与謝蕪村 1716 &ndash December 25, 1784) was a Japanese Poet and painter from the ( June 15, 1763 - January 5, 1828) Japanese poet and Buddhist priest known for his Haiku poems and journals was the Pen-name of a Japanese author, Poet, Literary critic, and Journalist in Meiji period Japan was the Pen-name of a Japanese author and Haiku Poet. He is known for his Free verse haiku. was a Japanese poet and sculptor His father was Kōun Takamura, a renowned Japanese sculptor was a Japanese poet. He died of Tuberculosis on April 13, 1912. was a writer of free-style verse active in Taishō and early Showa period Japan. was a Poet and author of Children's literature in early Shōwa period Japan. Yone Noguchi, born (and known in Japan as Yonejiro Noguchi (野口米次郎 Noguchi Yonejirō, 1875 - 1947 was an influential writer of poetry fiction (born December 15, 1931) is a Japanese Poet and Translator. He is one of the most widely read and highly regarded of living Japanese poets is the Pen-name of a tanka Poet in Taishō and Showa period Japan. was the Pen-name of a Japanese author, Poet, Literary critic, and Journalist in Meiji period Japan It includes work going back to the 15th century, which is to say a century or two further than is common for contemporary collections.
The largest collection of haiku translated into English on any single subject is Cherry Blossom Epiphany by Robin D. Gill, which contains some 3,000 Japanese haiku on the subject of the cherry blossom. [1]
References
- ^ Gill, Robin D. Cherry Blossom Epiphany, Paraverse Press, 2007 ISBN 978-0-9742618-6-7
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic