The Manyoshu: Japan's oldest and most renowned poetry anthology
The Manyoshu, meaning "Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves", is the oldest existing anthology of Japanese poetry. Compiled around 759 AD during the Nara period, it contains over 4,500 poems covering themes from daily life to nature, love and grief. The poems were composed by people from all walks of life, including emperors, nobles and common folk. The Manyoshu has had a profound influence on Japanese literature and continues to be widely read and cherished today.
Content and structure of the Manyoshu anthology
The Manyoshu's 20 volumes, or "books", contain a total of 4,516 poems. These are divided into various genres, such as:
- Banka (elegies)
- Somonka (love poems)
- Zoka (miscellaneous poems)
The two main poetic forms used are the choka (long poem) and tanka (short poem). Some famous sections include the "Thirty-Two Poems on Plum Blossoms" and "Thirteen Poems in Praise of Wine".
Books 14 and 20 are particularly notable for including poems from Japan's eastern provinces, allowing a glimpse into regional Old Japanese dialects of the time. As a whole, the Manyoshu presents a vivid picture of ancient Japanese language, culture and society.
A Manyoshu poem on ume plum blossoms contained the Chinese characters making up the new era name Reiwa
The significance of the Manyoshu for Japanese language and writing
The Manyoshu was originally written using man'yogana, an early writing system that phonetically employed Chinese characters to represent Japanese. This was instrumental in the development of Japan's modern kana syllabaries, hiragana and katakana.
The language preserved in the Manyoshu, known as Old Japanese, is a crucial resource for historical linguists studying the Japanese language's roots and evolution. The poems employ the grammar and vocabulary of Japanese in its earliest written form.
Major poets and contributors to the Manyoshu
While the Manyoshu's compilation is attributed to the poet Otomo no Yakamochi, it features the works of many known and anonymous poets from diverse backgrounds.
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro is considered one of the anthology's greatest poets. Other prominent contributors include Yamabe no Akahito, Yamanoe no Okura and Otomo no Tabito, Yakamochi's father who led a poetic circle in the Nara capital.
Themes and motifs in Manyoshu poetry
The Manyoshu explores timeless, universal themes and emotions. A reverence for the natural world permeates the poems, with many references to cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, animals and the changing seasons.
Love, longing, loss and the transient nature of life are frequent poetic subjects. Some works also express lighthearted appreciation for life's pleasures, like drinking sake. Humor and zest for the sensual world balance more melancholy meditations.
Manyoshu poems on the pleasures of sake written in Chinese characters with Japanese hiragana letters next to them
The Manyoshu's enduring influence on Japanese art and culture
The Manyoshu's influence extends far beyond literature. Over 150 plant species mentioned in the anthology are cultivated in themed botanical gardens across Japan. The poems have inspired countless works of calligraphy, painting, music and textile art.
Frequently quoted and alluded to in later Japanese writing, the Manyoshu helped shape the course of the country's literary tradition. Its verses still resonate with modern readers and the anthology retains a prominent place in Japanese culture over 1200 years after its creation.
Translating the Manyoshu into modern languages
The first partial Manyoshu translation was attempted in 1834 by German scholar Julius Klaproth. In the 20th century, academics such as Ralph Hodgson, H.H. Honda and Ian Hideo Levy undertook significant English translations.
Translating the Manyoshu while preserving the original meaning, tone and poetic beauty is a continual challenge. However, thanks to dedicated scholars, global readers can now appreciate and enjoy the timeless appeal of this unparalleled Japanese anthology.
