Kojijū (小侍従; 1121–1202 CE) (also Matsuyoi no Kojijū)
was a ''
waka
WAKA (channel 8) is a television station licensed to Selma, Alabama, United States, serving as the CBS affiliate for the Montgomery area. It is owned by Bahakel Communications alongside Tuskegee-licensed CW+ affiliate WBMM (channel 22); B ...
'' poet and Japanese noblewoman active in the late
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...
.
Her father was Ki no Mitsukiyo, and her mother was the poet Hanazono Sadaijinke no Kodaishin.
As a lady-in-waiting, she served the twice-empress
Fujiwara no Tashi (who was wife, successively, to
Emperor Konoe
was the 76th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 近衛天皇 (76)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.
Konoe's reign spanned the years from 1142 through 1155.
Genealogy
Before his ascension to the Chr ...
and
Emperor Nijō
was the 78th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1158 through 1165.
Genealogy
Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his ''imina'') was Morihito''- ...
), as well as in the court of the retired
Emperor Takakura
was the 80th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1168 through 1180.
Genealogy
Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his ''imina'') was Norihito''-s ...
.
Additionally, she took part in poetry contests organized by
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"; ...
.
During this time, courtiers were expected to be skilled poets, and a great deal of court life involved composing and exchanging poetry, as well as participating in poetry contests.
Kojijū is designated a member of the . She left a
private collection
A private collection is a privately owned collection of works (usually artworks) or valuable items. In a museum or art gallery context, the term signifies that a certain work is not owned by that institution, but is on loan from an individual ...
of poems titled the ''
Kojijū-shū
The ''Kojijū-shū'' (小侍従集) is a Japanese anthology of ''waka (poetry), waka'' poetry. It is the personal anthology (''kashū (poetry), kashū'') of Kojijū.
Compiler and date
The earliest form of the ''Kojijū-shū'', the Kashū (poetry ...
''.
Contemporaries noted her for her especial skill in composing poems that exactly suited the situation, particularly when writing a verse as a response to someone else's verse.
In 1179, she became a Buddhist nun.
References
Works cited
*
External links
E-text of her poemsin Japanese
1121 births
1202 deaths
Poets of the Heian period
Buddhist nuns of the Heian period
12th-century Japanese poets
Japanese women poets
12th-century Japanese women writers
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