• Period: Heian Period
• Occupation: Poet
• Family: Fujiwara no Akisue (father) Fujiwara no Kiyosuke (son) Kenshō (adopted son)
• Birth: 1090AD
• Death: 1155AD

Fujiwara no Akisuke

Fujiwara no Akisuke (藤原顕輔) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan living from 1090-1155AD. He was the son of Fujiwara no Akisue, father of Fujiwara no Kiyosuke,¹ and adopted father of Kenshō³⁴. He also went by the name of Rokujo Akisuke as he was a part of the Rokujo House of poetry³⁴. During his life he is said to have been close to Minamoto no Toshiyori.

He inherited from his his father, his personal collection of poems, as well as a portrait of Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, which his father had painted. His son Kiyosuke later inherited the painting.

In 1144 he was approached by the Emperor Sutoku who commisioned him to compile the poetry anthology known as the Shikashū. He finally completed this in 1151.

In total we can find 84 of his poems in Imperial Anthologies¹, as well as another 145 by him from his private collection known as the Akisuke shū.³  One of his poems (No.79) can be found in the Ogura Hyakuni Isshu and goes as follows:¹

Footnotes

1. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.
2. Suzuki, H. et al. (1997) ”Genshoku: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu”. Tokyo: Bun’eidō.
3. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
4. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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• Period: Heian Period
• Occupation: Waka Poet, Lieutenant of Imperial Guard
• Family: Fujiwara no Toshiie (father) Fujiwara no Michinaga (great-grandfather)
• Birth: 1060AD
• Death: 1142AD

Fujiwara no Mototoshi

Fujiwara no Mototoshi (藤原 基俊) also went by the name of Kakushi. He was the son of the Minister Fujiwara no Toshiie¹ and great grandson of Fujiwara no Michinaga³ He lived from 1060 to 1142.

During his life he held the position of Lieutenant of the Imperial Guard of the Palace Gates and in 1138 decided to enter into religion when he then took the name of Kakushi.¹

He acted as teacher to Fujiwara no Shunzei and helped in the compilation of the Shinsen rōeishu around 1110 which is a collection of Japanaese verse in the form of song.³ Apparently his conservative style of poetry, caused him to have a rivallry with Minamoto no Toshiyori who was more experimental.⁴

As a poet he also acted as judge in many poetic competitions. In total, we can find 105 poems by him in Imperial Anthologies¹, such as the Kin’yō wakashū⁴ as well in a private collection of his poetry. He was listed as one of the 36 Poetic Geniuses of the Late Classical Period, and one of his poems (No.75) can be found in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu and goes as follows:¹

Japanese text2	Romanized Japanese1	English translation1
契りをきし させもが露を 命にて あはれことしの 秋もいぬめり	Chigiri-okishi sasemo ga tsuyu o inochi nite aware kotoshi no aki mo inumeri	I believed in you with all my heart But again this autumn passed, Filled with sadness. Your promises - But vanishing dewdrops Of the mugwort blessing!

Footnotes

1. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.
2. Suzuki, H. et al. (1997) ”Genshoku: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu”. Tokyo: Bun’eidō.
3. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
4. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

Thirty Six Poetic Geniuses of the Late Classical Period
Fujiwara no Sadayori * Fujiwara no Masatsune * Fujiwara no Michinobu * Fujiwara no Michitsuna no Haha * Fujiwara no Mototoshi * Fujiwara no Yoshitaka * Kujō Yoshitsune * Priest Nōin

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• • Period: Heian Period / Kamakura Period
  • Occupation: Waka Poet
  • Family: Fujiwara no Teika (son) Priest Jakuren (son-in-law) Fujiwara no Sanesada (nephew)
  • Birth: 1114AD
  • Death: 1204AD

Fujiwara no Shunzei

Fujiwara no Shunzei (藤原 俊成), also known as Fujiwara no Toshinari was a member of the Fujiwara Clan.

He was the father of Fujiwara no Teika, adoptive father of Priest Jakuren and uncle of Fujiwara no Sanesada. A renowned poet, he lived from 1114AD to 1204AD, entered into religion in 1176 and taught Fujiwara no Ietaka as he grew up.

During his life he held the position of Master of the Empress Dowager’s Palace, was a protege to the Emperor Toba and was a renowned poet. As a poet he is known to have adopted the ‘new style’ of poetry by Minamoto no Toshiyori. He is known to have been friends with the wandering poet-monk Saigyō Hōshi,¹ and was a student of Fujiwara no Mototoshi.³

He acted as the judge of many poetry competitions, and 2000 of his poetic judgements have survived to this day. His literary accomplishments include compiling the Senzaishū and writing the Korai Fūteishō (Treatise on Poetic Styles through the Ages; 1197-1201). In addition to a private collection of poetry we can find 450 of his poems in the Imperial Anthologies.

Following the death of Priest Dōin he chose 18 of his poems to be included in the Senzaishū. Following this Priest Dōin then came to him in a dream to show him how happy this made him. And so Shunzei decided to add another 2 of his poems.

Several aethetic concepts have become closely associated with him, such as the concept of sabi (loneliness), yōen (ethereal beauty) and yūgen (mystery and depth). All of these greatly influenced the development of waka, haiku and noh plays.

One of his poems is included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu (No.83) and goes as follows:¹

Japanese text2	Romanized Japanese1	English translation1
世の中よ 道こそなけれ 思ひ入る 山のおくにも 鹿ぞ鳴くなる	Yo no naka yo michi koso nakere omoiiru yama no oku ni mo shika zo nakunaru	There's no escape in this sad world. With a melancholy heart I enter deep in the mountains, but even here I hear the plaintative belling of the stag.

Footnotes

1. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.
2. Suzuki, H. et al. (1997) ”Genshoku: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu”. Tokyo: Bun’eidō.
3. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

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