Japanese Poetry

Did you know?

Poetry is a favorite among the Japanese. The oldest collection of poetry- Manyo Shu ( Collection of myriad leaves ) - was compiled in A.D, 800. The collection titled One Hundred Persons was compiled much later.

The writing of poetry was a required ability among the aristocratic classes. Skill in the art led to promotions in court. Poetic ability was also necessary for courtship: a suitor's letter to his love one had to be exquisitely written in poetry. This was carefully folded and tied with a spray of flowers before it was sent.

Japanese poems have a certain suggestive quality, with the poet seemingly addressing the reader, " Your heart must complete the poem." Poems are written on various subjects - the falling of the blossoms, the reddening of the leaves in the autumn, the glory of the imperial family, the death of a wife or child, or the pleasure of drink. The shortest form of Japanese poetry - but the most popular - is the haiku, a seventeen-syllable poem in three lines of five, seven, and five syllables. Poetry is so intimately bound with Japanese life that the Japanese set aside one day each year as Haiku Day.

With advent of the twentieth century, Western ideas and customs greatly influenced the Japanese. European influences in literature is manifested in translation and imitation, especially in fiction.