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.

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 (845-912) (GSS)

GSS: 39

Bishop Henjo (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".

GSS: 48

I

Ise (KKS)

GSS: 20, 52, 58

K

Prince Kanemi

GSS: 78

Taira no Kanemori (?-990) (GSS)

Although descended from imperial lineage, his father had already been given the Taira name as a commoner. The two poems attributed to him in the GSS both refer to him as "Prince Kanemori", thus influencing some commentators to support the attribution of these poems to Prince Kanemi, after some variant texts. Although only two of his poems appear in the GSS, he is far better represented in later collections.

GSS: 3

Fujiwara no Kanesuke (877-933) (KKS)

One of the 36 poetic immortals. He seems to have had significant involvement with Tsurayuki and other major poets of the time.

GSS: 17

Fujiwara no Korehira (875-938) (GSS)

He participated in a number of early poetry competitions and seems to have been a friend of Mitsune, Tadamine, and other KKS era poets.

GSS: 48

Sakanoue no Korenori (?-930) (KKS)

A KKS era poet who participated in a number of early poetry competitions. One of the 36 poetic immortals.

GSS: 42, 54

M

Fujiwara no Masatada (?-961) (GSS)

GSS: 43

Sugawara no Michizane (845-903) (KKS)

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.

GSS: 57

Ōshikōchi no Mitsune (859-925?) (KKS)

One of the compilers of the KKS, and one of the 36 poetic immortals.

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

Fujiwara no Moromasa

GSS: 67

O

Fujiwara no Okikaze

GSS: 73

S

Fujiwara no Saneyori (900-970) (GSS)

Known for both his poetry and Chinese learning, he rose to the highest levels of the government. He also served as a judge for at least one poetry competition. Referred to as "Minister of the Left."

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 (KKS)

GSS: 28

Emperor Suzaku (923-951) (GSS)

The 61st Emperor in the traditional listing. Reigned from 930-946.

GSS: 6, 50

T

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 (?-905) (KKS)

One of the 36 poetic immortals. He was chosen to be one of the KKS compilers but seems to have died before its completion.

GSS: 11

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

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.

GSS: 18, 45, 46, 80

Copyright 2019, J. Christopher Kern.