Learn Japanese From Kokin Wakashu
Kokin Wakashu, also called Kokinshu, is one of the 21collections of Japanese poems that were compiled by imperial request. This collection consists of about 1111 Japanese poems written by many authors.
Kokin Wakashu has different meanings, for example: Collection of Old and New Japanese Poems and Ancient and Modern Japanese Poems. This collection was divided into 20 books and edited by four court poets, who are:
- Ki no Tsurayuki
- Ki no Tomonori
- Mibu no Tadamine
- Mitsune Oshikochi
Each poem has its own title that refers to different themes of classical poetry, such as: love, season, nature and mourning.
The poems of Kokinshu can be roughly divided into three periods, which are:
Poems from the 9th century, most of them are anonymous.
Poems of the age of the "Six Poetic Geniuses", which where:
Otomo no Kuronoshi
Ono no Komachi
Ariwara no Narihira
Kisen Hoshi
Sojo Henjo and Bunya no Yasuhide
- Poems by the editors and their contemporaries.
Poem Number 658
This poem was written by Ono no Komachi.
| 夢 ぢ に は あし も やすめず かよ へ ども うつつ に ひと め 見し ごと は あらず | yumeji ni wa ashi mo yasumezu kayoedomo utsutsu ni hitome mishigoto wa arazu | Though I go to you ceaselessly along dream paths, the sum of those trysts is less than a single glimpse granted in the waking world. |
Tatsuta river (Anonymous)
| 竜田河 もみぢみだれて 流るめり わたらば錦 なかやたえなむ | Tatsutagawa momiji midarete nagarumeri wataraba nishiki naka ya taenam | Tatsuta river red leaves are floating in chaotic pattern; crossing here would be cutting their brocade... |
