is a classical Japanese anthology of one hundred Japanese
''waka'' by one hundred poets. ''Hyakunin isshu'' can be translated to "one hundred people, one poem
ach; it can also refer to the card game of ''
uta-garuta'', which uses a deck composed of cards based on the ''Hyakunin Isshu''.
The most famous and standard version was compiled by
Fujiwara no Teika (1162–1241) while he lived in the
Ogura district of
Kyoto
Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...
. It is therefore also known as .
Compilation
One of Teika's diaries, the ''Meigetsuki'', says that his son
Tameie asked him to arrange one hundred poems for Tameie's father-in-law,
Utsunomiya Yoritsuna, who was furnishing a residence near
Mount Ogura; hence the full name of ''Ogura Hyakunin Isshu''. In order to decorate screens of the residence,
Fujiwara no Teika produced the calligraphy poem sheets.
Hishikawa Moronobu (1618–1694) provided
woodblock portraits for each of the poets included in the anthology.
Katsukawa Shunshō (1726–1793) designed prints for a
full-color edition published in 1775.
In his own lifetime, Teika was better known for other work. For example, in 1200 (''
Shōji
A is a door, window or room divider used in traditional Japanese architecture, consisting of Transparency and translucency, translucent (or transparent) sheets on a lattice frame. Where light transmission is not needed, the similar but opaq ...
'' 2), he prepared another anthology of one hundred poems for ex-
Emperor Go-Toba
was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198.
This 12th-century sovereign was named after Emperor Toba, and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later"; ...
, called the ''Shōji Hyakushu''.
Poets
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Poems
Poem number 1
A poem by
Emperor Tenji about the hardships of farmers. Teika chose this poem from the ''
Gosen Wakashū'':
Poem number 2
A visually-descriptive poem attributed to
Empress Jitō. Teika chose this poem from the ''
Shin Kokin Wakashū'':
The original was likely based from a poem of the ''
Man'yōshū'' (book 1, poem 28) by the same poet.
Poem number 26

A quite different poem is attributed to ''
Sadaijin''
Fujiwara no Tadahira in the context of a very specific incident. After abdicating, former
Emperor Uda visited Mount Ogura in
Yamashiro Province. He was so greatly impressed by the beauty of autumn colours of the maples that he ordered Fujiwara no Tadahira to encourage Uda's son and heir,
Emperor Daigo, to visit the same area.
was Tadahira's posthumous name, and this is the name used in William Porter's translation of the poem which observes that "
e maples of Mount Ogura / If they could understand / Would keep their brilliant leaves / until
e Ruler of this land / Pass with his Royal band." The accompanying 18th century illustration shows a person of consequence riding an ox in a procession with attendants on foot. The group is passing through an area of maple leaves.
Teika chose this poem from the ''
Shūi Wakashū'' for the hundred poems collection:
Poem number 86
A poem by
Saigyō about the pain of love. This poem was chosen from the ''
Senzai Wakashū'':
Order of arrangement of the collection
File:Hyakuninisshu 001.jpg, 1.
Emperor Tenji
天智天皇
File:Hyakuninisshu 002.jpg, 2.
Empress Jitō
持統天皇
File:Hyakuninisshu 003.jpg, 3.
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro
柿本人麿
File:Hyakuninisshu 004.jpg, 4.
Yamabe no Akahito
山辺赤人
File:Hyakuninisshu 005.jpg, 5.
Sarumaru Dayū
猿丸大夫
File:Hyakuninisshu 006.jpg, 6.
Chūnagon Yakamochi
中納言家持
File:Hyakuninisshu 007.jpg, 7.
Abe no Nakamaro
安倍仲麿
File:Hyakuninisshu 008.jpg, 8.
Kisen Hōshi
喜撰法師
File:Hyakuninisshu 009.jpg, 9.
Ono no Komachi
小野小町
File:Hyakuninisshu 010.jpg, 10.
Semimaru
蝉丸
File:Hyakuninisshu 011.jpg, 11.
Sangi Takamura
参議篁
File:Hyakuninisshu 012.jpg, 12.
Sōjō Henjō
僧正遍昭
File:Hyakuninisshu 013.jpg, 13.
Retired Emperor Yōzei
陽成院
File:Hyakuninisshu 014.jpg, 14.
Minister of the Left of Kawara
河原左大臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 015.jpg, 15.
Emperor Kōkō
光孝天皇
File:Hyakuninisshu 016.jpg, 16.
Chūnagon Yukihira
中納言行平
File:Hyakuninisshu 017.jpg, 17.
Ariwara no Narihira Ason
在原業平朝臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 018.jpg, 18.
Fujiwara no Toshiyuki Ason
藤原敏行朝臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 019.jpg, 19.
Ise
伊勢
File:Hyakuninisshu 020.jpg, 20.
Prince Motoyoshi
元良親王
File:Hyakuninisshu 021.jpg, 21.
Sosei Hōshi
素性法師
File:Hyakuninisshu 022.jpg, 22.
Fun'ya no Yasuhide
文屋康秀
File:Hyakuninisshu 023.jpg, 23.
Ō'e no Chisato
大江千里
File:Hyakuninisshu 024.jpg, 24.
Kanke
菅家
File:Hyakuninisshu 025.jpg, 25.
Minister of the Right of Sanjō
三条右大臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 026.jpg, 26.
Teishin-kō
貞信公
File:Hyakuninisshu 027.jpg, 27.
Chūnagon Kanesuke
中納言兼輔
File:Hyakuninisshu 028.jpg, 28.
Minamoto no Muneyuki Ason
源宗于朝臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 029.jpg, 29.
Ōshikōchi no Mitsune
凡河内躬恒
File:Hyakuninisshu 030.jpg, 30.
Mibu no Tadamine
壬生忠岑
File:Hyakuninisshu 031.jpg, 31.
Sakanoue no Korenori
坂上是則
File:Hyakuninisshu 032.jpg, 32.
Harumichi no Tsuraki
春道列樹
File:Hyakuninisshu 033.jpg, 33.
Ki no Tomonori
紀友則
File:Hyakuninisshu 034.jpg, 34.
Fujiwara no Okikaze
藤原興風
File:Hyakuninisshu 035.jpg, 35.
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
File:Hyakuninisshu 036.jpg, 36.
Kiyohara no Fukayabu
清原深養父
File:Hyakuninisshu 037.jpg, 37.
Fun'ya no Asayasu
文屋朝康
File:Hyakuninisshu 038.jpg, 38.
Ukon
右近
File:Hyakuninisshu 039.jpg, 39.
Sangi Hitoshi
参議等
File:Hyakuninisshu 040.jpg, 40.
Taira no Kanemori
平兼盛
File:Hyakuninisshu 041.jpg, 41.
Mibu no Tadami
壬生忠見
File:Hyakuninisshu 042.jpg, 42.
Kiyohara no Motosuke
清原元輔
File:Hyakuninisshu 043.jpg, 43.
Acting Chūnagon Atsutada
権中納言敦忠
File:Hyakuninisshu 044.jpg, 44.
Chūnagon Asatada
中納言朝忠
File:Hyakuninisshu 045.jpg, 45.
Kentoku-kō
謙徳公
File:Hyakuninisshu 046.jpg, 46.
Sone no Yoshitada
曽禰好忠
File:Hyakuninisshu 047.jpg, 47.
Egyō Hōshi
恵慶法師
File:Hyakuninisshu 048.jpg, 48.
Minamoto no Shigeyuki
源重之
File:Hyakuninisshu 049.jpg, 49.
Ōnakatomi no Yoshinobu Ason
大中臣能宣朝臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 050.jpg, 50.
Fujiwara no Yoshitaka
藤原義孝
File:Hyakuninisshu 051.jpg, 51.
Fujiwara no Sanekata Ason
藤原実方朝臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 052.jpg, 52.
Fujiwara no Michinobu Ason
藤原道信朝臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 053.jpg, 53.
Mother of the Right Captain Michitsuna
右大将道綱母
File:Hyakuninisshu 054.jpg, 54.
Mother of the Honorary Grand Minister
儀同三司母
File:Hyakuninisshu 055.jpg, 55.
Dainagon Kintō
大納言公任
File:Hyakuninisshu 056.jpg, 56.
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
File:Hyakuninisshu 057.jpg, 57.
Murasaki Shikibu
紫式部
File:Hyakuninisshu 058.jpg, 58.
Daini no San'mi
大弐三位
File:Hyakuninisshu 059.jpg, 59.
Akazome Emon
赤染衛門
File:Hyakuninisshu 060.jpg, 60.
Ko Shikibu no Naishi
小式部内侍
File:Hyakuninisshu 061.jpg, 61.
Ise no Taifu
伊勢大輔
File:Hyakuninisshu 062.jpg, 62.
Sei Shōnagon
清少納言
File:Hyakuninisshu 063.jpg, 63.
Sakyō no Daibu Michimasa
左京大夫道雅
File:Hyakuninisshu 064.jpg, 64.
Acting Chūnagon Sadayori
権中納言定頼
File:Hyakuninisshu 065.jpg, 65.
Sagami
相模
File:Hyakuninisshu 066.jpg, 66.
Dai Sōjō Gyōson
大僧正行尊
File:Hyakuninisshu 067.jpg, 67.
Suō no Naishi
周防内侍
File:Hyakuninisshu 068.jpg, 68.
Retired Emperor Sanjō
三条院
File:Hyakuninisshu 069.jpg, 69.
Nō'in Hōshi
能因法師
File:Hyakuninisshu 070.jpg, 70.
Ryōsen Hōshi
良暹法師
File:Hyakuninisshu 071.jpg, 71.
Dainagon Tsunenobu
大納言経信
File:Hyakuninisshu 072.jpg, 72.
Kii of Princess Yūshi's Household
祐子内親王家紀伊
File:Hyakuninisshu 073.jpg, 73.
Acting Chūnagon Masafusa
権中納言匡房
File:Hyakuninisshu 074.jpg, 74.
Minamoto no Toshiyori Ason
源俊頼朝臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 075.jpg, 75.
Fujiwara no Mototoshi
藤原基俊
File:Hyakuninisshu 076.jpg, 76.
Lay Novice of Hosshō-ji Temple, former Kampaku and Chancellor of the Realm
法性寺入道前関白太政大臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 077.jpg, 77.
Retired Emperor Sutoku
崇徳院
File:Hyakuninisshu 078.jpg, 78.
Minamoto no Kanemasa
源兼昌
File:Hyakuninisshu 079.jpg, 79.
Sakyō no Daibu Akisuke
左京大夫顕輔
File:Hyakuninisshu 080.jpg, 80.
Taikenmon In no Horikawa
待賢門院堀河
File:Hyakuninisshu 081.jpg, 81.
Go-Tokudaiji Sa-daijin
後徳大寺左大臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 082.jpg, 82.
Dōin Hōshi
道因法師
File:Hyakuninisshu 083.jpg, 83.
Master of the Empress Dowager's Household Toshinari
皇太后宮大夫俊成
File:Hyakuninisshu 084.jpg, 84.
Fujiwara no Kiyosuke Ason
藤原清輔朝臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 085.jpg, 85.
Shun'e Hōshi
俊恵法師
File:Hyakuninisshu 086.jpg, 86.
Saigyō Hōshi
西行法師
File:Hyakuninisshu 087.jpg, 87.
Jakuren Hōshi
寂蓮法師
File:Hyakuninisshu 088.jpg, 88.
Attendant to Empress Kōka
皇嘉門院別当
File:Hyakuninisshu 089.jpg, 89.
Princess Shokushi
式子内親王
File:Hyakuninisshu 090.jpg, 90.
Attendant to Empress Inpu
殷富門院大輔
File:Hyakuninisshu 091.jpg, 91.
Gokyōgoku Regent and former Chancellor of the Realm
後京極摂政前太政大臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 092.jpg, 92.
Nijō In no Sanuki
二条院讃岐
File:Hyakuninisshu 093.jpg, 93.
Kamakura U-daijin
鎌倉右大臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 094.jpg, 94.
Sangi Masatsune
参議雅経
File:Hyakuninisshu 095.jpg, 95.
Saki no Daisōjō Jien
前大僧正慈円
File:Hyakuninisshu 096.jpg, 96.
Lay Novice and former Chancellor of the Realm
入道前太政大臣
File:Hyakuninisshu 097.jpg, 97.
Acting Chūnagon Sadaie
権中納言定家
File:Hyakuninisshu 098.jpg, 98.
Ju-nii Ietaka
従二位家隆
File:Hyakuninisshu 099.jpg, 99.
Retired Emperor Go-Toba
後鳥羽院
File:Hyakuninisshu 100.jpg, 100.
Retired Emperor Juntoku
順徳院
English translations
The ''Ogura Hyakunin Isshu'' has been translated into many languages and into English many times.
English translations include:
*
F. V. Dickins, ''Hyaku-Nin-Isshu, or Stanzas by a Century of Poets'' (1866)
*
Clay MacCauley, ''Hyakunin-isshu (Single Songs of a Hundred Poets)'', ''TASJ, 27''(4), 1–152 (1899)
*
Yone Noguchi, ' (1907)
* William N. Porter, ' (1909)
* Tom Galt, ''The Little Treasury of One Hundred People, One Poem Each'' (1982)
* Joshua S. Mostow, ''Pictures of the Heart: The Hyakunin Isshu in Word and Image'' (1996)
* Peter MacMillan, ''One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse'' (2008;
Penguin Classics
Penguin Classics is an imprint (trade name), imprint of Penguin Books under which classic works of literature are published in English language, English, Spanish language, Spanish, Portuguese language, Portuguese, and Korean language, Korean amon ...
, revised edition 2018)
* Emiko Miyashita and Michael Dylan Welch, ''100 Poets: Passions of the Imperial Court'' (2008)
* Hideaki Nakano, ''WAKA WAKA 100 - Hyakunin Isshu'' (2023)
Other Hyakunin Isshu anthologies
Many other anthologies compiled along the same criteria—one hundred poems by one hundred poets—include the words ''hyakunin isshu'', notably the
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
-era , or ''One Hundred Patriotic Poems by One Hundred Poets''. Also important is , a series of parodies of the original ''Ogura'' collection.
Card game
Teika's anthology is the basis for the card game of ''
karuta
are Culture of Japan, Japanese playing cards. Playing cards were introduced to Japan by Portuguese traders during the mid-16th century. These early decks were used for trick-taking games. The earliest indigenous ''karuta'' was invented in the ...
'', which has been popular since the
Edo period
The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...
.
[ Honan, William H.br> "Why Millions in Japan Read All About Poetry,"]
''New York Times.'' March 6, 2000.
Many forms of playing games with ''Hyakunin Isshu'' exist in Japan, such as ''
Uta-garuta'', the basis for
competitive karuta
is an official Japanese card game that uses a deck of ''uta-garuta'' cards to play karuta, within the format and rules set by the All Japan Karuta Association.
Overview
Competitive karuta has been around since the start of the 19th century b ...
(''kyōgi karuta'').
See also
*
Nisonin, Kyoto
*
Shigureden, a museum in Kyoto about this subject
Notes
References
* Fujiwara no Sadaie, Thomas Galt. (1982)
''The Little Treasury of One Hundred People, One Poem Each.''Princeton:
Princeton University Press
Princeton University Press is an independent publisher with close connections to Princeton University. Its mission is to disseminate scholarship within academia and society at large.
The press was founded by Whitney Darrow, with the financial ...
.
* Fujiwara no Sadaie, Yoritsuna Utsunomiya, William Ninnis Porter. (1979
''A Hundred Verses from Old Japan, Being a Translation of the Hyaku-nin-isshiu: Being a Translation of the Hyaku-nin-isshiu.''Tokyo:
Tuttle Publishing
Tuttle Publishing, originally the Charles E. Tuttle Company, is a book publishing company that includes Tuttle, Periplus Editions, and Journey Editions. .
* Mostow, Joshua S., ed. (1996)
''Pictures of the Heart: The Hyakunin Isshu in Word and Image.''Honolulu:
University of Hawaii Press
A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...
.
OCLC 645187818* 新総合 図説国語 新訂版, 東京書籍株式会社, (2016), 池内輝雄・三角洋一・吉原英夫, SINSOUGOU ZUSETSUKOKUGO revised edition, TOKYO SHOSEKI CO., LTD.(2016), Teruo Ikeuchi・Youichi Misumi・Hideo Yosiwara.
* 古語辞典 第十版, 旺文社, (2008), 松村明・山口明穂・和田利政, KOGOZITEN 10th edition, OBUNSHA(2008), Akari Matsumura・Akiho Yamaguchi・Toshimasa Wada.
* 全訳古語辞典 第四版, 旺文社, (2011), 宮腰賢・石井正己・小田勝, ZENYAKU KOGOZITEN 4th edition, OBUNSYA(2011), Masaru Miyakoshi・Masami Ishii・Masaru Oda
Further reading
* ''One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Translation of the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu'', Peter McMillan, foreword by Donald Keene. New York: Columbia University Press, 2008.
* ''One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse'', Peter McMillan. London: Penguin Classics, 2018.
* ''100 Poets: Passions of the Imperial Court'', Emiko Miyashita and Michael Dylan Welch, translators. Tokyo: PIE Books, 2008. This book is also available as an iPad/iPhone application.
External links
* , with English translations of each poem
* , with links to published English translations
Ogura Hyakunin Isshuat
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson and contains his The Lawn, Academical Village, a World H ...
Library Japanese Text Initiative
*
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Japanese literature
Japanese poetry anthologies
Articles containing Japanese poems
Fujiwara no Teika
Waka (poetry)