Shinpen kokka taikan no. | 11 |
Heian-chō uta’awase taisei no. | 21 |
Title | 陽成院歌合 |
Romanised Title | Yōzei-in uta’awase |
Translated Title | Former Emperor Yōzei’s Poetry Contest |
Alternative Title(s) | |
Date | Summer, Engi 12-13 [912-913] |
Extant Poems | 20 |
Sponsor | Emperor Yōzei 陽成天皇 (869-949; r. 876-884) |
Identifiable Participants | |
Judgements | Round 1 only |
Topics | Love and summer insects (natsumushi no koi 夏虫の恋) |
This is a small-scale contest sponsored by Yōzei some years after he had left the throne. Other than the first round, where a ‘Tie’ is noted, there are no judgements, nor have the poets’ names been recorded. The competition’s most significant feature, therefore, is that it is the sole extant contest on the topic of ‘Love and Summer Insects’ and as such established many of the images and vocabulary usages which subsequent poets used when composing related poetry (Hagitani 1963, 183).
