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上代前半〔柿本人麻呂〕
Early Jodai period (Kakinomoto no Hitomaro)

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 上代前半は、ほぼ7世紀にあたります。和歌が成立した時代です。この時代に活躍した歌人には、額田王らがいますが、一人を取り上げるとすると、やはり柿本人麻呂です。

■パネルの人物:柿本人麻呂
 生没年は未詳です。奈良時代の少し前、持統天皇と文武天皇の治世下を中心に活躍した歌人です。特に長歌に秀で、宮廷に関わる大きな出来事を題材にとることがあるため、宮廷に和歌をもって仕える歌人(宮廷歌人)であったと考えられます。島津忠夫氏は、「人麻呂により、和歌は一挙に一つの頂点にまで引き上げられたともいえ」、「ここに和歌の成立を見る」と述べています。人麻呂は、この時代を代表するばかりでなく、特に中世以降は神格化が進みました。

■代表歌
〈 笹の葉はみ山もさやにさやげども我は妹思ふ別れ来ぬれば 〉

〔意味〕笹の葉は、山全体がさやさやと音を立てているが、私は妻のことを思うことだ、別れて来たので。
The early Jodai period corresponds to approximately the 7th century. It was in this era that the waka form was established. Notable poets from this era include Nukata no Okimi et al, but the most standout example is Kakinomoto no Hitomaro.


■ Person featured on panel: Kakinomoto no Hitomaro

The dates of his birth and death are unknown. This poet was active under the rule of Empress Jito and Emperor Mommu, falling slightly before the Nara Period (710-794 CE), He excelled in particular in the choka form, and took up subjects such as major events at the imperial court, so he is believed to have worked in an official capacity as a court poet.

Tadao Shimazu states, 'One could say that Hitomaro's work elevated the waka form at once to the pinnacle of literature...it was at this turning point that we see the formal creation of the waka form.' Not only is Hitomaro emblematic of this time, but he went on to achieve the status of a literary deity in Japan's Middle Ages and beyond.


■ Signature poem
笹の葉はみ山もさやにさやげども我は妹思ふ別れ来ぬれば

Explanation: The bamboo leaves make a soft, rustling sound across the entire mountain, but my mind is preoccupied with my wife, whom I just left.