Sanekata Shū

Fujiwara no Sanekata 藤原実方 (958?-998), one of the thirty six poetic sages, was raised by his uncle, Naritoki 済時, after his parents’ early deaths and so had a less than stellar court career due to a lack of support, despite being the grandson of a Minister of the Left, Fujiwara no Morotada 藤原師伊, and the son of a Chamberlain of the level of Junior Fifth rank, Upper Grade, Fujiwara no Sadatoki 藤原貞時. Nevertheless, he had close relationships with many of the great men of his time and was often called upon to compose poetry for members of the imperial family, as well as corresponding with some of his female poetic contemporaries such as Sei Shōnagon 清少納言 and Kodai no Kimi 小大君. He gained a reputation for both passion and ill-fortune and, like Ariwara no Narihira, to whom he is often compared, numerous anecdotes about him began to circulate in the years after his death.

His private collection contains 348 poems, divided almost equally between those based on or commemorating court life and functions, and more personal expressions of love and grief.

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'Simply moving and elegant'