Kin’yōwakashū 金葉和歌集

The fifth imperial poetry anthology, the Kin’yōwakashū (or Kin’yōshū) the ‘Collection of Golden Leaves of Japanese Poetry’. It was ordered by Emperor Shirakawa (1053-1129; r.1072-1086) and compiled by Minamoto no Toshinari (or, more usually, Shunrai) (?1055-?1129). Shunrai was a gifted poet and critic, championing more ‘modern’ trends in poetry, as opposed to conservatives such as Fujiwara no Mototoshi (?-1142/3). Consequently, he was regarded as eccentric by his peers (he did produce some odd poetry) and Shirakawa required two rewrites of the anthology before he was satisfied with it.

The Kinyôshû follows the Kokinshū pattern, though in only ten books and 716 poems, making it the shortest of the imperial anthologies; it also lacks a preface.

Book I
Book II
Book III
Book IV
Book V
Book VI
Book VII
Book VIII
Book IX
Book X
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Felicitations
Partings
Love I
Love II
Miscellaneous I
Miscellaneous II

The principal poets of the collection (those with 10 or more poems included) are: Minamoto no Toshiyori (or Shunrai) (31), Minamoto no Tsunenobu (26), Fujiwara no Kinzane (23), Fujiwara no Akisue (20), Fujiwara no Tadamichi (15(, Fujiwara no Asasuke (14), Fujiwara no Nagazane (14), the Monk Eien (or Yôen) (13), the Monk Gyōson (10), Minamoto no Asanaka (10), and Minamoto no Masamitsu (or Masateru) (10).

All three versions of Kin’yōshū remain extant, so below poems are listed with the numbering of the version in which they appear. This means there are some variations, but also some duplications.

 Book II:

KYS II: 97
KYS II: 99
KYS II: 111KYS II: 131
KYS II: 138

 Book III:

KYS III: 203
KYS III: 215
KYS III: 216
KYS III: 233 KYS III: 250

 Book IV:

KYS IV: 263
KYS IV: 267
KYS IV: 276
KYS IV: 279
KYS IV: 284
KYS IV: 302

 Book V:

KYS V: 311
KYS V: 313
KYS V: 327 KYS V: 333

 Book VI:

KYS VI: 339KYS VI: 345 KYS VI: 349

 Book VII:

KYS VII: 352
KYS VII: 375
KYS VII: 379
KYS VII: 386
KYS VII: 399
KYS VII: 401 KYS VII: 406

 Book VIII:

KKS VIII: 448
KYS VIII: 449
KYS VIII: 470
KYS VIII: 473
KYS VIII: 474
KYS VIII: 477
 KYS VIII: 480KYS VIII: 502
KYS VIII: 510

 Book IX:

KYS IX: 556KYS IX: 582
KYS IX: 587
 KYS IX: 602

 Book X:

KYS X: 616KYS X: 620 KYS X: 637

Version 1 (Hatsudobon 初度本)

Book I

KYS I: 10
KYS I: 11
KYS I: 25
KYS I: 91
KYS I: 110

Book II

KYS II: 172

Book III

Book IV

Book V

Book VI

Book VII

Book VII

Book IX

Book X

Version 2 (Nidobon 二度本)

Book I:

KYS I: 1
KYS I: 2
KYS I: 7

KYS I: 8
KYS I: 16
KYS I: 18
KYS I: 60
KYS I: 72

Book II

Book III

Book IV

Book V

Book VI

Book VII

Book VII

Book IX

Book X

Version 3 (Sansōbon 三奏本)

Book I:

KYS I: 2
KYS I: 7
KYS I: 8
KYS I: 19
KYS I: 61
KYS I: 73

Book II

Book III

Book IV

Book V

Book VI

Book VII

Book VII

Book IX

Book X

'Simply moving and elegant'