Kokinshu (Collection of Poems Ancient and Modern)

Overview

The first imperial anthology of waka, compiled by Ki no Tsurayuki, Ki no Tomonori, Oshikochi no Mitsune and Mibu no Tadamine at the command of Emperor Daigo. Twenty scrolls, about 1,100 poems. It is divided into sections such as spring, summer, autumn, winter, congratulations, partings, travel, love and laments, and the seasonal poems are arranged to follow the turning of the seasons. It has two prefaces: Tsurayuki's preface in kana and Ki no Yoshimochi's preface in Chinese.

Background

At court in the early ninth century, poetry and prose in Chinese were prized, and waka remained an art of private occasions. From the late ninth century, poetry contests flourished and waka became a public art again. As kana script matured, waka was established as the literature of the nation, and over the following five centuries and more, twenty-one imperial anthologies were compiled.

Highlights

1. The kana preface"Japanese poetry takes the human heart as its seed and grows into countless leaves of words." The first critical essay to put into words what waka is.Read “Heian-kyo, the Imperial Palace” →
2. Seeing one thing as another, and pivot wordsSnow seen as blossoms, blossoms seen as clouds, two meanings layered on one word. A collection that delights in intellectual craft.Read “Mount Yoshino” →
3. The autumn leaves of the Tatsuta River"Not even in the age of the raging gods… the Tatsuta River tie-dyeing its waters deep crimson." Narihira's poem sees leaves flowing on the river as tie-dyed cloth.Read “Tatsuta River” →
4. Osaka BarrierThe barrier, where people leaving and entering the capital passed, was a poetic place for singing of parting and reunion.Read “Osaka Barrier” →