⑩「和歌」とは？
What is Waka Poetry?
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和歌とは、五七五 七七のリズムに乗せて言葉を綴る日本の古典文学です。奈良時代につくられた日本最古の歌集『万葉集』には、農民から天皇まで様々な階層の歌が集められ、和歌が日本人の生活文化の一部だったことが推測できます。その一方で、和歌は作者の教養や人格などを物語るものとして考えられ、皇族や武将など人の上に立つ立場では必須の教養となっていました。その逆に、「貧しい生まれでも和歌が認められて上流階級に仲間入りした」「身分が低くても和歌を詠んでお姫様と結ばれた」という和歌が叶えたサクセスストーリーも、昔話には多く残されています。
Poetry and song have long been important in Japan in religious, political, and everyday social contexts. The Man'yōshū, which was created in the Nara period (710–794), is the oldest collection of poetry in Japan and features poetry by people from a variety of class backgrounds, ranging from work songs sung by farmers to poems composed by the Emperor of Japan.
Waka is a type of poetry in classical Japanese literature structured in a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable format. It became important starting in the Heian period (794–1185) and continued to be the predominant form of poetry throughout the medieval era. Waka was an essential part of education for the elite classes, such as those in the court and the shogunate.
Beyond political contexts, waka was used by both men and women in the elite classes to express their feelings toward each other, as well as their thoughts on nature and the passage of time. There are also legends of individuals from lower classes gaining recognition in waka poetry and joining the upper class, show that even if those legends are not factual, waka was thought to possess deep power.
◦ Please also enjoy the Waka Museum of Literature, where you can learn about waka poetry.
Waka is a type of poetry in classical Japanese literature structured in a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable format. It became important starting in the Heian period (794–1185) and continued to be the predominant form of poetry throughout the medieval era. Waka was an essential part of education for the elite classes, such as those in the court and the shogunate.
Beyond political contexts, waka was used by both men and women in the elite classes to express their feelings toward each other, as well as their thoughts on nature and the passage of time. There are also legends of individuals from lower classes gaining recognition in waka poetry and joining the upper class, show that even if those legends are not factual, waka was thought to possess deep power.
◦ Please also enjoy the Waka Museum of Literature, where you can learn about waka poetry.