I’ve just had a new article published online in the journal Japan Forum, entitled ‘Confusion over Cathay: attitudes to Chinese material in mediaeval Japanese poetic criticism’. This emerged from my studies of the ‘Poetry Contest in Six Hundred Rounds’ (Roppyakuban uta’awase 六百番歌合) as well as my general consideration of uta’awase criticism – more to come on that in a while, I hope!

The abstract of the article is:

This article investigates the reception and usage of Sinitic material within mediaeval Japanese poetic criticism, specifically focussing on the Roppyakuban uta’awase (‘Poetry Contest in Six Hundred Rounds’; 1193–94). It challenges the simplistic binary of the ‘wakan dialectic’ by analysing how poets and critics practically engaged with Sinitic material. The study highlights the conflicting attitudes between the contest’s judge, Fujiwara no Shunzei, and the participant Kenshō. Evidence from the contest reveals that while poets frequently incorporated Sinitic allusions and diction, Shunzei often criticised such usage, arguing that distinct aesthetic standards applied to uta (Japanese poetry) versus shi (Sinitic poetry). Conversely, Kenshō actively utilised Sinitic sources to validate his poetic positions and challenge Shunzei’s critical authority. Ultimately, the article demonstrates that while early mediaeval poet/critics did regard Sinitic material as a resource for the composition and criticism of uta, such usage could be contested and was subject to wider critical standards governing waka composition.

If that has whet your appetite to find out more, you can find the article here. It’s open access, so anyone can read it!