What are waka?
Waka refers to the early court poetry of Japan, and includes a variety of poetic forms. Each form relies on an arrangement of alternating five- and seven-syllable units. These units are often transcribed in English as separate lines, but tanka are often printed in Japanese as a single line of poetry. Waka are a precursor to the more familiar and modern Japanese poetic form, the haiku.
The first anthology of Japanese waka, the Man'yoshu, was collected in the Nara period (seventh and eighth centuries). While the scholarly language at the time was Chinese, waka were written using Chinese characters to phonetically represent Japanese words. During the Heian period (tenth and eleventh centuries), waka poetry gained increasing importance in Heian aristocracy. Poetry exchange held a both a political and social role; sponsoring anthologizing of poems was often a way of asserting political power, and Heian aristocrats were expected to master the art of poetry composition and exchange to form social connections. Poetry typically held a much higher status than prose written in kana (Japanese syllabary). Some Japanese prose texts were able to reach a higher status due to their inclusion of numerous poems, such as The Tale of Genji.
Waka typically address topics of love, private thoughts, and seasons. Rather than defining and explaining the topic, they evoke emotions by referencing imagery or poetry familiar to the intended audience to paint a picture using only a few words.
The first anthology of Japanese waka, the Man'yoshu, was collected in the Nara period (seventh and eighth centuries). While the scholarly language at the time was Chinese, waka were written using Chinese characters to phonetically represent Japanese words. During the Heian period (tenth and eleventh centuries), waka poetry gained increasing importance in Heian aristocracy. Poetry exchange held a both a political and social role; sponsoring anthologizing of poems was often a way of asserting political power, and Heian aristocrats were expected to master the art of poetry composition and exchange to form social connections. Poetry typically held a much higher status than prose written in kana (Japanese syllabary). Some Japanese prose texts were able to reach a higher status due to their inclusion of numerous poems, such as The Tale of Genji.
Waka typically address topics of love, private thoughts, and seasons. Rather than defining and explaining the topic, they evoke emotions by referencing imagery or poetry familiar to the intended audience to paint a picture using only a few words.
Forms of Waka
Tanka, meaning "short poem." These follow a syllable pattern of 5-7-5-7-7. As they are the most prevalent form of waka, some texts refer to waka synonymously with tanka.
Choka, meaning "long poem." These alternate units of five and seven to any length, usually ending with a 7-7 couplet. Depending on the time period, choka may also be referred to as uta (song). Particularly with longer poems, there is some gray area in the classification of poems versus songs.
Katauta, meaning "half-poem." These follow a pattern of 5-7-7 syllables.
Sedoka, meaning "head-repeated poem." These follow a pattern of 5-7-7-5-7-7 syllables.
Bussokuseikika, meaning "Buddha's Footstone poem." These follow a pattern of 5-7-5-7-7-7 syllables. The term refers specifically to a set of twenty-one poems carved on a stone and kept at Yakushiji Temple in Nara, Japan. The date and authorship of the poems are unknown. They are generally thought to be from the eighth century, as they accompany a "Footprint Stone" into which the historical Buddha's footprint is carved along with the year 753 CE.
Choka, meaning "long poem." These alternate units of five and seven to any length, usually ending with a 7-7 couplet. Depending on the time period, choka may also be referred to as uta (song). Particularly with longer poems, there is some gray area in the classification of poems versus songs.
Katauta, meaning "half-poem." These follow a pattern of 5-7-7 syllables.
Sedoka, meaning "head-repeated poem." These follow a pattern of 5-7-7-5-7-7 syllables.
Bussokuseikika, meaning "Buddha's Footstone poem." These follow a pattern of 5-7-5-7-7-7 syllables. The term refers specifically to a set of twenty-one poems carved on a stone and kept at Yakushiji Temple in Nara, Japan. The date and authorship of the poems are unknown. They are generally thought to be from the eighth century, as they accompany a "Footprint Stone" into which the historical Buddha's footprint is carved along with the year 753 CE.