Title
A Hundred Verses from Old Japan: Japanese and English Bilingual Edition (Tuttle Classics),Used
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Discover this classic translation of one of Japan's most famous poetry anthologies.This gem of Japanese poetry has preserved its charm for over a century. Dating from the 13th century, this collection of Hyakuninisshiu (literally 'one hundred poems by one hundred poets') contains one hundred evocative and intensely human poems. The selections are written as Japanese tanka (featuring a fiveline thirtyone syllable format in a 57577 pattern) and were composed between the seventh and 13th centuries before being compiled by Sadaiye Fujiwara in 1235. These short poems consist almost entirely of love poems and picture poems intended to bring some wellknown scene to mind: nature, the cycle of the seasons, the impermanence of life, and the vicissitudes of love. There are obvious Buddhist and Shinto influences throughout.To make the sounds more familiar to English readers, the translator has adopted a fiveline verse of 86866 meter, with the second, fourth, and fifth lines rhyming. His accompanying notes put the poems into a cultural and historical context. Each poem is illustrated with an 18century Japanese woodcut by an anonymous illustrator. Despite the centuries that have passed since these poems were written, modern readers are certain to connect with their themes and their beauty.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'A Hundred Verses from Old Japan'? A: The main themes of 'A Hundred Verses from Old Japan' include love, nature, the impermanence of life, and the changing seasons, reflecting deep cultural influences from Buddhism and Shinto.
- Q: Who is the author of this bilingual edition? A: The author of this bilingual edition is William N. Porter, who translated the classic poems into English while maintaining their poetic essence.
- Q: What kind of poems are included in this anthology? A: This anthology includes one hundred tanka poems, which are traditional Japanese poems structured in a five-line format with specific syllable patterns.
- Q: When was 'A Hundred Verses from Old Japan' published? A: The book was published on September 15, 2007.
- Q: How is the translation of the poems structured? A: The translation adopts a five-line verse format of 8-6-8-6-6 meter, with the second, fourth, and fifth lines rhyming.
- Q: What type of illustrations are included in the book? A: Each poem is accompanied by an 18-century Japanese woodcut illustration created by an anonymous artist.
- Q: Is this book suitable for beginners in Japanese poetry? A: Yes, this bilingual edition is suitable for beginners, as it provides both Japanese text and English translations, along with cultural context.
- Q: What is the binding type of this book? A: The book is available in a paperback binding.
- Q: How many pages does 'A Hundred Verses from Old Japan' have? A: The book contains a total of 224 pages.
- Q: What category does this book fall under? A: This book falls under the category of Anthologies, specifically focusing on Japanese poetry.