Wiki Category: Poetry

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet, Priest, Caligrapher Family: Henjo (father) Birth: fl. 9th/early 10th century. Death: – Priest Sosei Priest Sosei (素性 or 素性法師) was a waka poet, calligrapher and Priest who flourished around the end of the 9th and early 10th century. Prior to taking the name Sosei he[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet Family: Emperor Saga (Great-Grandfather) Birth: 880AD Death: 951AD Minamoto no Hitoshi Minamoto no Hitoshi (源等) was the great-grandson of Emperor Saga, living from 880-951AD. During his lifetime he was Governor of several important provinces and in 947AD he recieved the rank of General of the Fourth Rank.[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet Family: Fun’ya no Yasuhide (father) Birth: fl. 9th/10th Century Death: – Fun’ya no Asayasu Fun’ya no Asayasu (文屋 朝康) was a low ranking official and poet who was son to Fun’ya no Yasuhide. He flourished between the 9th and 10th century. We know during[...]

See also: List of Provinces Shinano Province Shinano Province (信濃国) was one of the many provinces of Japan. Folktales The folktale The Clever Boar and Monkey is set in this province.5 Legenedary Period Yamanobe no Ohotaka passed through here on his way to catch a swan for the Prince Homutsuwake.4[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet, Middle Councellor Family: Fujiwara no Sadakata (father) Fujiwara no Tomoyori (brother) Birth: 910AD Death: 966AD Fujiwara no Asatada Fujiwara no Asatada (藤原 朝忠) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan living from 910-966AD. A well known gallant, he was the fifth son of Fujiwara no[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet Family: Fujiwara no Hamanari (great-grandfather) Birth: fl. late 9th Century Death: – Fujiwara no Okikaze Fujiwara no Okikaze (藤原 興風) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Kyōke branch, who flourshed in the late 9th century. He was the great-grandson of[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet, Magistrate Family: Emperor Kōkō (grandfather) Birth: – Death: 939AD Minamoto no Muneyuki Minamoto no Muneyuki (源 宗于) was the grandson of Emperor Kōkō, known to have died in 939AD. During his life it is known he was reduced to mere commoner status in 894AD,[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet Family: Emperor Yōzei (father) Birth: 890AD Death: 943AD Prince Motoyoshi Prince Motoyoshi (元良親王) was a member of the Imperial Family and son to Emperor Yōzei, living from 890-943AD. During his lifetime he was known to have been a great gallant and appears in several[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet Family: Birth: ? Death: 901/907AD Fujiwara no Toshiyuki Fujiwara no Toshiyuki (藤原 敏行) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan who died in 9011/907AD2. During his lifetime, serving under four Emperors, and was known for his poetic talents as well as being a celebrated[...]

Reign: 876-884AD Born: 868AD Period: Heian Period Family: Emperor Seiwa (father) Prince Motoyoshi (son) Fujiwara no Mototsune (uncle) Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Seiwa * Successor Emperor Kōkō Emperor Yōzei Emperor Yōzei (陽成天皇) was the 57th Emperor of Japan living from 868-949AD and reigning from 876-884AD.1 Family He was the[...]

Wakan rōeishū The Wakan rōeishū (和漢朗詠集, Collection of Japanese and Chinese Poems for Singing) is a compilation of Chinese and Japanese poetry. This piece was solely edited by Fujiwara no Kintō,1 containing 216 Japanese poems and 587 Chinese couplets,23 compiled around 1013.2 The book was seperated into two books, one[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: sesshō, kampaku, dajō daijin Family: Fujiwara no Tadazane (father) Kanoe no Motozane (son) Fujiwara no Motofusa (son) Kujō no Kanezane (son) Fujiwara no Kanefusa (son) Jien (son) Fujiwara no Masako (daughter) Fujiwara no Ikushi (adopted daughter) Fujiwara no Teishi (adopted daughter) Birth: 1097AD Death: 1164AD Fujiwara no[...]

Man’yōshū The Man’yōshū (万葉集) is an important literary collection of Japanese poetry. Surviving Examples The oldest surviving example of this document is known as the katsura-bon (桂本) which dates to the mid-Heian period.1 Compilation It is generally unknown how the entire piece was compiled, though the Japanese at this time[...]

Tōkan Kikō The Tōkan Kikō (東関紀行) is a piece of Japanese literature. It dates to around 1242 and in it we find mention of Priest Manzei. The book looks at one of his poems and uses the art of honkadori on it stating that Manzei wrote his poem whilst standing[...]

See also: Priest Manzei Poems Period: Nara Period Occupation: Governor of Mino, General of Owari, Mikawa and Shinano, Udaiben, Buddhist Monk (sami), bettō, Poet Family: – Birth: – Death:- Priest Manzei Priest Manzei (満誓 沙弥 – He Who Fulfills the Vow/Compleat Votary) was the religous name of Kasa Maro (笠[朝臣][...]

Period: Kamakura Period Occupation: Poet Family: Birth: 1170 Death: 1221 Fujiwara no Masatsune Fujiwara no Masatsune (藤原 雅経) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan and founder of the Asukai Family. He lived from 1170-1221. In his time he was a prolific kemari player1 and was the founder of the[...]

See also: Kobayashi Issa Poems Period: Edo Period Occupation: Haiku Poet Family: Kiku (wife) 8 children Birth: 1763 Death: 1827 Kobayashi Issa Kobayashi Issa (小林 一茶) was a renowned haiku poet living from 1763 to 1827.1234 He went by other names in his life such as Kobayashi Yatarō and Kobayashi[...]

Ryokō yōjinshū The Ryokō yōjinshū (旅行用心集) was a travel guide published in 1810, written by Yasumi Roan. Chapter themes are included below with choice examples from each one: Introduction from the author. Sixty One tips on travel. You should not reach out your hands for fruit grown in gardens at[...]

We are creating these pages to serves as a list of poems by Sarumaru Taifu as we carry out more research, as well as the numerous translations these poems have in English. We will group them into the literature they comes from. Should we not known where they come from yet,[...]

We are creating these pages to serves as a list of poems by Moriya Sen’an as we carry out more research, as well as the numerous translations these poems have in English. We will group them into the literature they comes from. Should we not known where they come from[...]

We are creating these pages to serves as a list of poems by Ono no Komachi as we carry out more research, as well as the numerous translations these poems have in English. We will group them into the literature they comes from. Should we not known where they come[...]

Period: Edo Period Occupation: Poet Family: – Birth: 1651 Death: 1704 Mukai Kyorai Mukai Kyorai (向井 去来), real name Mukai Kanetoki2, lived from 1651 to 1704, born to a physician from Nagasaki.1 As he grew up he excelled in martial arts, but by the age of 23 he decided to[...]

Period: Nara Period Occupation: Poet Family: Ōtomo no Tabito (half-brother) Ōtomo no Sukunamaro (half-brother) Ōtomo no Yakamochi (nephew) Birth: – Death: – Sakanoue no Iratsume Sakanoue no Iratsume (大伴坂上 郎女) was the female head of the Ōtomo Clan active from 728 to 746AD.2 During her life she was the favourite[...]

Period: Muromachi Period / Azuchi-Momoyama Period Occupation: Daimyō Family: Date Teramune (Father) Birth: 1567 Death: 1635 Date Masamune Date Masamune (伊達 政宗) was a daimyō of Mutsu Province living from 1567 to 1635, during his life he had the nickname of One Eye Dragon (Dokuganryū) as he had a lost[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Poet Family: Fujiwara no Akisuke (son) Fujiwara no Kiyosuke (grandson) Birth: 1054AD Death: 1122AD Fujiwara no Akisue Fujiwara no Akisue (藤原 顕季) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan and founder of the Rokujo House of Poetry12, living in the Heian Period from 1054-1122AD.2 He was[...]

Fukuro-sōshi The Fukuro-sōshi (袋草紙) is a Heian Period poetry anthology dated to 1159.1 The poems consist of waka style and it was written by Fujiwara no Kiyosuke.2 Footnotes 1. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 2. Louis[...]

Period: Nara Period Occupation: Waka Poet, Minister of Military Affairs, Governor of Etchū Province Family: Ōtomo no Tabito (father) Sakanoue no Iratsume (aunt) Ōiratsume (cousin and wife) Birth: 718? Death: 785 Ōtomo no Yakamochi Ōtomo no Yakamochi (大伴 家持) was a Poet who lived from perhaps 718 until 7851. Family[...]

See also: Moriya Sen’an Poems Moriya Sen’an Moriya Sen’an was a Japanese poet, known to have written specifically jisei (death poems). We know that he died in 1838 (Edo Period), but sadly not much more is known. His death poems often included a humorous note to them and the one[...]

Katawa guruma Katawa guruma (片輪車 – Single Wheel) is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki by Toriyama Sekien. More specifically she is a female spirit and can be seen as attached to a wheel. The story surrouding her states that there was a road in[...]

Period: Edo Period Occupation: Poet Family: Birth: Death: – Yosa no Buson Yosa no Buson (与謝 蕪村) was an Edo Period poet who lived from 1716 to 1783. He was known for both Haiku as well as Haishi (free form poetry using both Japanese and Chinese). In total we know of[...]

Sagoromo Monogatari Sagoromo Monogatari (狭衣物語) is a monogatari written between 1069 and 1081. The author of this piece remains unknown but it is generally thought to have been composed by Seji (Some put forth Daini no Sanmi as the author2). You can find strong influences in this text from the[...]

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[...]

Period: Heian Period / Kamakura Period Occupation: Waka Poet, Bureau of Poetry Family: Fujiwara no Ietaka (son-in-law) Fujiwara no Shunzei (adopted father) Birth: 1139 Death: 1202 Priest Jakuren Priest Jakuren (寂蓮), originally known as Fujiwara no Sadanaga (藤原定長) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan living from 1139 to 1202AD.[...]

Period: Nara Period Occupation: Waka Poet, Courtier, Bureaucrat, Ason Family: – Birth: 1st half 8th century Death: – Yamabe no Akahito Yamabe no Akahito (山部 赤人 / 山邊 赤人) lived during the first half of the 8th century. During his life he acted as a courtier as well as bureaucrat[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet, Caligrapher, Director of Military Affairs, Middle Counselor. Family: Emperor Murakami (grandfather) Fujiwara no Kinto (father) Birth: 995AD Death: 1045AD Fujiwara no Sadayori Fujiwara no Sadayori (藤原定頼) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan living from 995 to 1045AD. He was the grandson of Emperor[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet, Governor. Family: Sakanoue no Mochiki (son) Birth: Death: 930AD Sakanoue no Korenori Sakanoue no Korenori (坂上是則) was a known waka poet who had a good career, and ended up with the position of Governor for the Province of Kaga. His poetic legacy includes forty[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Sadaijin, Sesshō, Waka Poet. Family: Fujiwara no Mototsune (father) Fujiwara no Saneyori (son) Fujiwara no Morosuke (son) Fujiwara no Morotada (son) Fujiwara no Morouji (son) Fujiwara no Tokihira (brother) Fujiwara no Nakahira (brother) Fujiwara no Kanehira (brother) Fujiwara no Raishi (sister) Fujiwara no Baishi (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi[...]

Period: Heian Period / Kamakura Period Occupation: Waka Poet Family: Priest Jakuren (father-in-law) Fujiwara no Mitsutaka (father) Birth: 1158AD Death: 1237AD Fujiwara no Ietaka Fujiwara no Ietaka (藤原 家隆) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan who lived between 1158 and 1237.1 He was also known as Mibu-ni-i and Karyū.3[...]

Tosa Nikki The Tosa Nikki (土佐日記 – Tosa Diary), written in 935AD by Ki no Tsurayuki, is an account (punctuated by poems throughout) of his journey home to Kyoto. The composition of the diary is as if it was written by a women, ie. it is written in kana script.[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Poet, Governor Family: Ki no Tokibumi (son) Ki no Tomonori (cousin) Birth: – Death: 946AD Ki no Tsurayuki Ki no Tsurayuki (紀 貫之) was a high ranking court nobleman of the Heian Period. Best known for his poetry and prose. He was the cousin of Ki[...]

Period: Nara Period Occupation: Waka Poet, Governor Family: – Birth: – Death: 733AD? Yamanoue no Okura Yamanoue no Okura (山上 憶良) was a waka poet and lived during the Nara period. He is said to have died at the age of 74 in 733AD1, and inspired Ōtomo no Tabito to persue his[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet Family: Fujiwara no Nobutaka (father) Murasaki Shibuki (mother) Fujiwara no Kanetaka (husband) Takashina no Nariaki (husband) Birth: 999AD Death: – Daini no Sanmi Daini no Sanmi, (大弐三位) also known as Fujiwara no Katako was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, born in 999AD. She[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet Family: Fujiwara no Koretada (father) Fujiwara no Yukinari (son) Fujiwara no Yoshikane (brother) Fujiwara no Kaishi (sister) Birth: 954AD Death: 974AD Fujiwara no Yoshitaka Fujiwara no Yoshitaka 藤原 義孝 (954 – 74) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan,  more specifically the Hokke Branch of[...]

See also: Ono no Komachi Poems Period: Heian Period Occupation: Waka Poet Family: Birth: mid 9th Century Death: – Ono no Komachi Ono no Komachi (小野 小町) was born around the mid 9th century and was possibly a lady-in-waiting under Emperor Ninmyō and Emperor Montoku. It is well attested she was[...]

Co-ordinates: 35°20′N 136°10′E Region: Kansai Region Prefecture: Shiga Prefecture Depth: 104 metres. Lake Biwa Lake Biwa (琵琶湖) is a lake within Shiga Prefecture. The Seta-no-Karashi Bridge is built on the lake.1 According to Buddhist tradition, Mount Fuji rose from the earth in 286 BC after an earthquake that also created[...]