Waka (classic Japanese poem)

Waka is a Japanese poem composed by 31 syllables. 

It is very simple, so I think it is difficult to express our feelings and beautiful scene. 

It starts Heian period. 

It is said that screams and cheers from our excitement increasingly grew to be songs sung in festival and during labor. Bearers of waka have changed variously with the time.

 

Heian period: noble, commoner

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Kamakura period: samurai

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Nanbokucho period: samurai, priest

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Edo period ~: commoner

As described above, waka has been mainly composed by man of power. 

You think waka is not so popular these days but there are many poets of waka in our time. 

Here, I introduce my favorite poem composed by Fujiwarano Teika who is famous poet:
 

“There are no beautiful flowers and no colorful autumn leaves. 

I am standing alone on lonely sands and a mean hut is standing alone too.”

 ←Fujiwarano Teika


I think that this express loneliness in autumn dusk very well. 

Everyone who read this poet feels a little sad but he must be impressed by it.

This is very popular as “Sanseki no Uta”. 

“Sanseki no Uta” is consisted by three poems. 

All of these express autumn dusk.

Please search your favorite waka.