⑥「連歌」と『宗祇』
Sōgi and Renga
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連歌（れんが）とは、和歌の上の句（五七五）と下の句（七七）を別々の人物が詠む形式の詩です。その起源は定かではありませんが、連歌というスタイルが生まれた当初は、おそらく二人で楽しむものだったのでしょう。しかしその後、たくさんの歌人が集まっている場所で、「二人だけでやるのは少し寂しいからみんなで詠もうよ！」となり、参加人数が増え、五七五 七七 五七五 七七…と長く続けられるようになっていったと思われます。しかも、ただ単に句を繋げるのではなく、「必ず色を入れる」「最初の一文字を『い・ろ・は・に…』から始める」などのルールが設けられるようになり、どんどん複雑化していったようです。もともとは仲間内で興じていた言葉遊びが、知識などを競い合う高度なゲームへと発展していった連歌。そして歌人であり古典学者であり、連歌師として名を馳せた『宗祇』によって、連歌は純粋な文学として大成されました。
Renga is a form of linked poetry in which different people compose the first half (5-7-5 syllables) and the second half (7-7 syllables) of a waka poem. Its origin is uncertain, but when the renga style first emerged, it was probably a casual form of poetry that two people enjoyed together. However, the form expanded to include many poets composing together in a longer linked-verse format that exceeded the 31 syllables of a waka.
As it developed, renga evolved into a format that continues over many verses and can include multiple participants writing in a
5-7-5, 7-7, 5-7-5, 7-7
syllabic pattern. In addition, poets must follow detailed rules that change based on the preceding verses. Some of these include featuring a color in a verse or starting with a specific syllable.
Though originally a form of wordplay enjoyed among friends, renga developed into an advanced art form in which people competed in a test of knowledge. Through Sōgi, who was a poet and classics scholar, renga rose to the level of an art form. And Sōgi is now regarded as the master of renga.
As it developed, renga evolved into a format that continues over many verses and can include multiple participants writing in a
5-7-5, 7-7, 5-7-5, 7-7
syllabic pattern. In addition, poets must follow detailed rules that change based on the preceding verses. Some of these include featuring a color in a verse or starting with a specific syllable.
Though originally a form of wordplay enjoyed among friends, renga developed into an advanced art form in which people competed in a test of knowledge. Through Sōgi, who was a poet and classics scholar, renga rose to the level of an art form. And Sōgi is now regarded as the master of renga.