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shivani_maurya's review against another edition
4.0
One of the most bizarre things that led me to a book was for this gem. I was watching a Japanese TV series where one of the characters recited the first verse from this book. And given how lyrical things can be in Japanese, I was smitten. At the time I had no idea about Hyakunin Isshu. But merely listening to the verse put me on the trail to look it up. That verse is the only one I can recite from memory even now. It led me to this book which I have read twice since. And I believe I can attempt its review now.
This book is an anthology of imperial poetry from the Heian period of Japanese history. Knowing the influence the Fujiwara family had during the Heian times, it isn't surprising to find one of their scions as the editor behind one of the most famous anthologies. Teika, a renowned poet himself, had edited other anthologies before. For this one, he chose hundred classical verses and compiled them into an anthology that has come to be highly regarded ever since. One can't help but get charmed by the selections he made, that leverage the strengths of classical waka poetry, expressing deep emotion and refinement of sensibility in images of profound simplicity. Hyakunin Isshu is without doubt an exemplary work in this regard. Subtlety and allusiveness are wielded deftly to conjure visual imagery with profound emotion. And if there's one thing that the Heian poetry was the best at, it was this play on different senses of the reader. One need not pair these poems with any visual depictions. They are powerful enough to evoke both the imagery and the feelings paired with it. Not ekphratic in the truest sense, but close. Very close.
The collection is rife with references to famous locations which have retained their associations even in the present time. The ambiguity of the subject allows for multiple reading of several verses, each rich with meaning in the changed context. Much focus is on the natural world, celebrating the beauty of a fleeting moment and the ability to be moved by it. The abundance of punning and wordplay which doesn't lend itself well to any translation, can still be seen in the attempts made by the translator, with more information on the nuances and other details offered in the accompanying commentary section.
There is just so much to recommend this collection of poems. This work alludes to many other well known works of Japanese literature ( [b:The Tale of Genji|7042|The Tale of Genji|Murasaki Shikibu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616514777l/7042._SX50_.jpg|2212225], [b:The Tales of Ise|25938375|The Tales of Ise|Anonymous|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618509827l/25938375._SY75_.jpg|182746] etc.) There is a sense of history reaching out to the readers and pulling them back to much simpler but nuanced times. Will I read this again in the future? Definitely. Personally, I have come to love this short collection. So much so that I wish I could read and enjoy the original. I will be listing some of my favourites below, in the hope that more people will read this and experience the beauty within. :)
This book is an anthology of imperial poetry from the Heian period of Japanese history. Knowing the influence the Fujiwara family had during the Heian times, it isn't surprising to find one of their scions as the editor behind one of the most famous anthologies. Teika, a renowned poet himself, had edited other anthologies before. For this one, he chose hundred classical verses and compiled them into an anthology that has come to be highly regarded ever since. One can't help but get charmed by the selections he made, that leverage the strengths of classical waka poetry, expressing deep emotion and refinement of sensibility in images of profound simplicity. Hyakunin Isshu is without doubt an exemplary work in this regard. Subtlety and allusiveness are wielded deftly to conjure visual imagery with profound emotion. And if there's one thing that the Heian poetry was the best at, it was this play on different senses of the reader. One need not pair these poems with any visual depictions. They are powerful enough to evoke both the imagery and the feelings paired with it. Not ekphratic in the truest sense, but close. Very close.
The collection is rife with references to famous locations which have retained their associations even in the present time. The ambiguity of the subject allows for multiple reading of several verses, each rich with meaning in the changed context. Much focus is on the natural world, celebrating the beauty of a fleeting moment and the ability to be moved by it. The abundance of punning and wordplay which doesn't lend itself well to any translation, can still be seen in the attempts made by the translator, with more information on the nuances and other details offered in the accompanying commentary section.
There is just so much to recommend this collection of poems. This work alludes to many other well known works of Japanese literature ( [b:The Tale of Genji|7042|The Tale of Genji|Murasaki Shikibu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616514777l/7042._SX50_.jpg|2212225], [b:The Tales of Ise|25938375|The Tales of Ise|Anonymous|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618509827l/25938375._SY75_.jpg|182746] etc.) There is a sense of history reaching out to the readers and pulling them back to much simpler but nuanced times. Will I read this again in the future? Definitely. Personally, I have come to love this short collection. So much so that I wish I could read and enjoy the original. I will be listing some of my favourites below, in the hope that more people will read this and experience the beauty within. :)
"Breezes of Heaven, blow closed
the pathway through the clouds
to keep a little longer
these heavenly dancers
from returning home."
"This troubled heart of mine
is like the watch fire of the guards
of the palace gate -
it fades to embers by day,
but blazes up again each night."
"When the wind gusts
over the autumn fields,
white dewdrops
lie strewn about
like scattered pearls."
_cristina's review against another edition
4.0
As the human heart’s so fickle
your feelings may have changed,
but at least in my old home
the plum blossoms bloom as always
with a fragrance of the past.
your feelings may have changed,
but at least in my old home
the plum blossoms bloom as always
with a fragrance of the past.
jellyfishes's review against another edition
2.0
Well, I mean, I guess it's good. But I remain deeply and naively untouched by poetry.
jrt5166's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this collection up at my local library on a total whim, and I am so glad I did! The poems were lovely, full of feeling and rich imagery. I very much appreciated the Introduction and Commentary sections because they made it possible for someone like me who knows literally nothing about the history of poetry in Japan to enjoy and (to some extent) understand the collection. It just blows my mind that a thousand years ago, poets in Japan were competing in poetry contests, and we still have their work to admire today.