Classical Japanese Poetry: The Basics

The history of Japanese poetry predates writing; it was composed and transmitted orally. With the introduction of the Chinese writing system, it developed into some standard forms.

1. Waka vs. Kanshi
和歌 vs. 漢詩

waka = poetry in Japanese
kanshi = poetry in Chinese

Men and women wrote waka. Men wrote kanshi. Poetry was important for social advancement and for courtship.

2. Kinds of waka

The basic structure of Japanese poetry is alternating lines of 5 and 7 syllables each. Rhyme is not used--it's too easy to rhyme in Japanese. However, many other devices for creating pattern in language were used.

長歌 chôka - long poem 5-7-5-7......7-7
短歌 tanka - short poem 5-7-5-7-7 (31 syllables)

People stopped composing chôka by the late Nara period. The 31-syllable tanka became the conventional form. This is why, for most purposes:

tanka = waka

3. Anthologies and other sources of poetry

Anthologies of poetry, particularly those collected by the imperial court, were very important. Anthologies were the major way of "publishing" (i.e., making public, not printing) poetry during this period.

Very early; i.e. Nara Period:

Kojiki (record of ancient matters): history with poems included, 712
Manyôshû (anthology of ten thousand leaves): anthology of poetry, including very ancient poems that were formally oral literature; lots of chôka; late 8th c

Heian:

Kokinshû or Kokin waka shû (collection of ancient and modern waka): edited by Ki no Tsurayuki, contains the famous "Kanajo" or Japanese preface, 920
Ise monogatari (tales of Ise): an uta monogatari or collection of poems + tales about the poems