The Super Poetry Brothers

Interesting historical fact that I learned recently.

A long, long time ago in this blog, I wrote about the Six Immortals of Poetry: a list of eminent poets devised by Ki no Tsurayiki (poem 35 in the Hyakunin Isshu, ひさ). This list was in the preface to the Kokinshu imperial anthology, wherein he raised up these six poets, as prime examples of poetry at the time ….. then promptly tore them down for one reason for another.

However, my book about the Manyoshu explains that in the same preface, Tsurayuki elevates two other poets as being above reproach:

• Kakinomoto Hitomaro (poem 3 in the Hyakunin Isshu, あし) and
• Yamabe Akahito (poem 4, たご)

Together they were revered as Yamakaki no Mon (山柿の門) meaning the “Gate of Yama(be) and Kaki(nomoto)”. In modern terms, we can call them the Super Poetry Brothers…

But I digress.

Kakinomoto and Yamabe were not exactly contemporaries. They were about a generation apart, and their poetry had different styles, but together they were seen as the epitome of poetic skill. So much so, that even Ki no Tsurayuki could find no fault in them.

Let’s look at each one.

Kakinomoto Hitomaro focused on expressing inner feelings. His poem in the Hyakunin Isshu shows his worry about sleeping alone one night, while this poem shows his passion for the one he loves. Or this one from the Manyoshu (poem 48):

Original Manyogana	Modern Japanese	Romanization	Rough Translation
東	東の	Himugashi no	To the east I
野炎	野にかぎろひの	No ni kagirohi no	see the rising sun
立所見而	立つ見えて	Tatsumiete	over the fields,
反見為者	かへり見すれば	Kaeri misureba	but if I look back [west]
月西渡	月かたぶきぬ	Tsuki katabukinu	I see the moon setting.

This poem has a hidden meaning, and was both a memorial to one Prince Kusakabe who was the only child of Empress Jito (poem 2 in the Hyakunin Isshu, はるす), and praise of Prince Kusakabe’s son, who later was crowned Emperor Monmu. Thus, the poem expresses both sadness at the passing one of beloved figure, and hopes for a bright future for his son.

Meanwhile, Yamabe Akahito was more focused on the beauty of nature. His poem in the Hyakunin Isshu about the snow on Mount Fuji is a good example. He wrote many poems on various subjects, but often did so through simile with nature. Or this one from the Manyoshu (poem 1424):

Original Manyogana	Modern Japanese	Romanization	Rough Translation
春野尓	春の野に	Haru no no ni	I went to go
須美礼採尓等	すみれ摘みにと	Sumire tsumi ni to	pick some violets for
来師吾曽	来し我そ	Koshiware so	you in a spring field,
野乎奈都可之美	野を懐かしみ	No wo natsukashimi	but it was so charming
一夜宿二来	一夜寝にける	Hitoyo nenikeru	I slept there all night.

Here, Yamabe is talking about a wonderful, charming violet field and how it made him so sleepy and relaxed that he slept all night there. There’s less of the heavy, emotional pull of Hitomaro, but it paints a really lovely scene that’s timeless.

That’s a very brief look at the Super Poetry Brothers!