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Kokin Wakashu: The First Imperial Anthology of Japanese Poetry

The Kokin Wakashū (or Kokinshū) is Japan's first imperial poetry anthology, compiled in the early 10th century (circa 905 AD) under the order of Emperor Daigo. The work does not have a traditional "synopsis" like a novel, but rather a thematic structure that organizes approximately 1,100 poems, predominantly in the tanka format (a 31-syllable short poem).

Content and Structure

The anthology is divided into 20 books (or scrolls), organized by conventional topics that set the standards for classical Japanese poetry. The main themes include:

• The Four Seasons: A significant portion of the work is dedicated to poems that describe the progression of the seasons throughout the year (spring, summer, autumn, winter), a central theme in Japanese aesthetics.

• Love and Romance: The love poems are sequenced to illustrate the different phases of a courtly relationship, from the beginning of affection to separation and lament.

• Other Topics: Includes sections on parting, travel, celebrations, laments, and miscellaneous poems, as well as specific poetic forms, such as acrostic poems.

 Importance and Legacy

Compiled mainly by four court poets, most notably Ki no Tsurayuki, the Kokin Wakashū is remarkable for several reasons:

• Aesthetic Establishment: The anthology dictated the form, format, and aesthetic of Japanese poetry (known as waka) until the 19th century. It emphasized elegance (miyabi), subtlety, and the use of seasonal imagery, in contrast to the more "raw" emotion of earlier collections like the Man'yōshū.

• Poetic Criticism: The Japanese preface, written by Ki no Tsurayuki, is considered the beginning of Japanese literary criticism, distinguishing native poetics from the dominant Chinese influences of the time. Its famous opening line states: "Japanese poetry has the human heart as its seed."

• Cultural Influence: The work served as a manual or textbook for later authors, influencing great classics of Japanese literature, such as The Tale of Genji and The Pillow Book.

In summary, the Kokin Wakashū is a foundational collection that crystallized the poetic sensibility of the Heian era and established a lasting aesthetic standard for Japanese culture.