Index of People

The poets are organized alphabetically by personal name. The information comes mostly from the Shin nihon koten bungaku taikei editions, as well as the Chokusen sakusha burui 勅撰作者部類, cited as CSB. The poem counts come largely from the CSB, which sometimes has variations or errors, although the numbers are likely to be correct within 1-2 poems.

The index does not include people about whom nothing is known beyond the name.

A

Fujiwara no Asatada 藤原朝忠 (910-966)

He reached the rank of Middle Counselor. He read poems for official functions and was featured as the first poet in a poetry competition, suggesting that his poetry was highly respected. He is also represented in a number of love tales with various palace women. In some cases he is mixed up with Atsutada due to copying mistakes. He first appears in the GSS with 4 poems, has 3 poems in the SIS, and then 14 poems in later collections.

GSS: 70

Prince Atsumoto 敦固親王 (?-926)

Referred to as "His Highness of War of the Suzaku Palace" in the GSS, evidently because he lived there (the Bureau of War was a traditional position for a prince). The 5th son of Emperor Uda. He seems to be represented by only a single poem in the imperial anthologies, although the CSB identifies "His Highness of War of the Suzaku Palace" as Prince Moriakira instead.

GSS: 38

D

Emperor Daigo 醍醐天皇 (885-930 r. 897-930)

The 60th Emperor of Japan in the traditional order of succession. He commissioned the KKS, although his own poetry did not appear in collections until the GSS, where he has 3 poems. He has one poem in the SIS, and 37 in later collections. The Emperor Daigo Collection focuses mostly on his love exchanges with his Intimates and Consorts.

GSS: 69

F

Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu 藤原冬嗣 (775-826)

Referred to as "Kan'in Minister of the Left" after his residence. He attained the second rank. His four GSS poems are his entire poetic output in the Imperial collections.

GSS: 16

H

Ki no Haseo 紀長谷雄 (845-912)

His career began with a number of offices related to Chinese learning, but he eventually became Emperor Daigo's Chinese teacher, and rose to the rank of Middle Counselor. He is represented in the Imperial collections only by has 4 poems in the GSS.

GSS: 39

Bishop Henjo 僧正遍照 (816-890) (KKS)

He served Emperor Nimmyo but became a priest after his death. His son is Priest Sosei. Tsurayuki included him as one of the six poets discussed in the preface to the KKS, thus earning him a place as one of the "six poetic immortals". He has 16 poems in the KKS, 5 in the GSS, 4 in the SIS, and 9 in later collections.

GSS: 48

I

Ise 伊勢 (late 9th c. - early 10th c.)

A major poet of the early Heian period and the best represented female poet in the first three collections. Her name comes from her father, who was the governor of Ise province. She bore a prince to Emperor Uda and also had relations with other high ranking men. Her poetry collection contains many poem tale-like love exchanges. She has 22 poems in the KKS, 65 in the GSS, 25 in the SIS, and 63 in later collections.

GSS: 20, 52, 58

K

Prince Kanemi 兼覧王 (?-932)

A grandson of Emperor Montoku, son of Prince Koretaka. He eventually was the palace minister 宮内卿. The KKS indicates he was involved with Tsurayuki and Mitsune's poetic activities. He has 5 poems in the KKS, 4 in the GSS, and none after that.

GSS: 78

Prince Kanemori 兼盛王

This may be Taira no Kanemori; see his entry. Also see the supplementary notes to poem 3 for more information.

GSS: 3

Taira no Kanemori 平兼盛 (?-990)

Although descended from imperial lineage, his father had already been given the Taira name as a commoner. Kanemori never had a good political career, only attaining the 5th rank. But he gained renown as a poet. He has 40 poems in the SIS and 45 in later collections.

Fujiwara no Kanesuke 藤原兼輔 (877-933)

One of the 36 poetic immortals. Also known as the Tsutsumi Counselor 堤中納言. He seems to have had significant involvement with Tsurayuki and other major poets of the time. He has 3 poems in the KKS, 23 poems in the GSS, and 28 poems in later collections.

GSS: 17, 625

Fujiwara no Korehira 藤原伊衡 (875-938)

The son of Toshiyuki, he eventually reached the junior 4th rank. He participated in a number of early poetry competitions and seems to have been a friend of Mitsune, Tadamine, and other KKS era poets. He has 2 poems in the GSS, 7 in the SIS, and 2 in later collections.

GSS: 48

Sakanoue no Korenori 坂上是則 (?-930?)

A KKS era poet who participated in a number of early poetry competitions. One of the 36 poetic immortals. His son was one of the GSS compilers. He has 7 poems in the KKS, 6 poems in the GSS, 3 in the SIS, and 23 in later collections.

GSS: 42, 54

M

Fujiwara no Masatada 藤原雅正 (?-961)

The son of Kanesuke. He reached junior 5th rank. His only appearances in the Imperial collections are his 7 poems in the GSS.

GSS: 43

Sugawara no Michizane 菅原道真 (845-903)

Known for his Chinese prose and poetry. He was exiled to Dazaifu and died there. It was later believed that his vengeful spirit afflicted the capital, and he was posthumously pardoned and then afterwards given several posthumous promotions, the last one to Chancellor (the highest rank). The CSB lists him under 北野 (kitano), the shrine where his spirit is revered as a god. He was more known for his Chinese poetry than his Japanese, but he has 2 poems in the KKS, 3 poems in the GSS, 5 in the SIS, and 24 in later collections.

GSS: 57

Ōshikōchi no Mitsune 凡河内躬恒 (859-925?)

One of the compilers of the KKS, and one of the 36 poetic immortals. Like the other compilers he never attained a high rank, but he was recognized for his poetry and participated in a number of competitions, and composed a number of poems for picture screens. He has 59 poems in the KKS, 22 in the GSS, 34 in the SIS, and 79 in later collections.

GSS: 2, 9, 13, 19, 41, 44, 59

Fujiwara no Moromasa 藤原師尹 (920-969)

Different sources give his name as Moromasa or Morotada. He rose to the rank of Minister of the Left before his death. His 3 poems in the GSS are his only poetic output in the Imperial collections.

GSS: 67

Ariwara no Motokata 在原元方.

Primarily known for his poem at the head of the KKS; his poetry is marked by a “sterile wit” (according to McCullough). He had 14 poems in the KKS, 8 in the GSS, 2 in the SIS, and 8 in later collections.

KKS: 1

Prince Motoyoshi 元良親王 (890-943)

The first son of the Emperor Yozei, but he died at the age of 54 without becoming Emperor. He was known as a playboy who exchanged poems with many different women. A personal poetry collection survives. He is represented by 7 poems in the GSS, 2 in the SIS, and 11 poems in later collections.

GSS: 510

Minamoto no Muneyuki 源宗于 (?-939)

A grandson of Emperor Koko, made a commoner in 894. He held several provincial governorships and never rose above the 4th rank. From his interaction with Tsurayuki and others it seems that he was known as a poet. The Muneyuki Collection contains 40 poems. He has 6 poems in the KKS, 3 in the GSS, and 6 in later collections.

GSS: 507

N

Ariwara no Narihira 在原業平 (825-880).

A grandson of Emperor Heizei who reached the 5th rank. Much of what is said about him comes from the realm of myth and legend; known as an "amorous man" who courted many women, he was made famous as the main character of the Tales of Ise. One of the Six Poetic Immortals. He has 30 poems in the KKS, 10 in the GSS, 3 in the SIS, and 43 poems in later collections.

GSS: 628

Nijō Empress 二条后 (Fujiwara Takaiko 藤原高子(842-910)).

A Consort of Emperor Seiwa and the mother of Emperor Yōzei. She was a patron of a number of prominent poets of the KKS period, although her own poetic activity was limited. She is represented by a single poem in the Imperial anthologies, KKS 4. She may have had a romantic relationship with Ariwara no Narihira, but the truth behind this is hard to separate from the legends that grew up around the pair.

KKS: 4

GSS: (1)

Minamoto no Nakatada 源中正.

Little is known about this person other than that he attained junior 5th rank. His only poems in the Imperial collections are his three GSS poems.

GSS: 227, 604

Minamoto no Nobumitsu 源延光 (923-998).

A son of Emperor Daigo. He has no poems in the GSS, and is only represented by 2 in the SIS and 3 in later collections.

GSS: (5)

O

Fujiwara no Okikaze

GSS: 73

Otsubune

According to Teika's notes in 僻案抄, she is the daughter of Ariwara no Muneyana, but was given this nickname by her brother in law Atsutada. Teika notes that for her to be identified in this way in an Imperial collection (rather than as "Daughter of Muneyana"), this must have been a fixed name she went by. Keichu thought the name came from 大奴 based on the 倭名類聚抄, but Nakayama found that an inappropriate name for a woman, and suggested that a variant of 大局 is more likely. Nakayama also disagrees with Teika's conclusion about the name, correctly noting that the Gosenshu frequently uses nomenclature that is unusual for other Imperial collections.

GSS: 634

S

Fujiwara no Saneyori 藤原実頼 (900-970).\

Also known as Seishinko 清慎公, his posthumous name, or as the "Onomiya Chancellor" 小野宮太政大臣 after his residence and the highest rank he attained. In the GSS he is referred to as the "Minister of the Left" 左大臣, his rank around the time of the collection's compilation. He was an accomplished poet, scholar, and koto player. A personal poetry collection survives. He is represented by 9 poems in the GSS, 8 in the SIS, and 16 in later collections.

GSS: 5

Shoni (小弐)

This woman may be the same as either the "Shoni Wet Nurse" or "Shoni no Myobu"; if not, then nothing about her is known. We can guess she was a woman serving at court or at someone's residence.

GSS: 71

Sosei

GSS: 28

Suruga

A woman, probably a gentlewoman of some kind but nothing is known about her. Her entire output in the Imperial collections is two GSS poems.

GSS: 509

Emperor Suzaku 朱雀天皇 (923-952)

[Suzaku] Emperor Suzaku . The 61st Emperor according to the traditional Imperial line. He reigned from 930-946. After stepping down he became a monk in 952 and died the same year. His poetic activity is slight, with one poem in the GSS, one in the SIS, and 7 in later collections.

GSS: (5), 6, 50

T

Fujiwara no Tadafusa 藤原忠房 (?-929)

An early 10th century poet who excellent also in buraku dance. He reached the junior-4th rank. He has 4 poems in KKS, 7 in the GSS, and 5 in the SIS.

GSS: 367, 454, 601

Mibu no Tadamine 壬生忠岑 (?-early 10th c.)

He never attained a high rank, but his poetic ability was recognized, and he participated in early poetry competitions. He was also one of the compilers of the KKS. He has 34 poems in the KKS, 10 poems in the GSS, 12 in the SIS, and 25 in later collections.

GSS: (80), 170, 265, 309, 387, 602

Taisho Haven

This poet's identity is uncertain; see Poem 61 for a detailed analysis.

GSS: 61

Miyaji no Takakaze

GSS: 72

Ki no Tomonori 紀友則 (?-905)

He was one of the KKS compilers but died before its completion. He never attained a high rank, but was involved in poetic activities with major figures of the time. He has 47 poems in the KKS, 9 poems in the GSS, 2 in the SIS, and 8 in later collections.

GSS: 11, 241, 372, 382, 433, 603

Minamoto no Tooru (822-895) (KKS)

Called "Kawara Minister of the Left."

GSS: 56

Fujiwara no Toshiyuki (?-901 or 907) (KKS)

One of the 36 poetic immortals, though he never rose very high in government.

GSS: 1

Harumichi no Tsuraki 春道列樹 (?-920)

He seems to have had some ability in Chinese. He first appears in the KKS with 3 poems, then in the GSS with 2, and no further poems.

GSS: 79

Ki no Tsurayuki (c. 868-945) (KKS)

One of the compilers of the KKS, the writer of the kana preface, and later accorded legendary status as a poet. He has the most poems in the GSS of any poet. A large personal poetry collection survives. He is represented by 98 poems in the KKS, 75 in the GSS, 107 in the SIS, and 161 poems in later collections.

GSS: 18, 45, 46, 80, 508

Copyright 2019, J. Christopher Kern.