Novice Jakuren 沙弥寂蓮 (?1139-?1202)

Jakuren was the son of Master Shunkai 阿闍梨俊海- one of Shunzei’s brothers – and was actually adopted by his uncle as a son. Under his personal name of Sadanaga 定長he made the beginnings of a court career, and went as far as Junior Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Central Affairs – a relatively high ranking position. In 1172, however, he took orders, and was thus able to devote more time to his poetic endeavours, making numerous poetic journeys away from the capital. His repuation as a poet increased – even before taking orders he had been active in poetry competitions – and he was selected as one of the compilers of the Shinkokinshū, but died before the anthology was completed. Emperor Gotoba stated that he was ‘a true proficient’, and praised his skills in linked verse (renga 連歌) and ‘mad poems’ (kyōka 狂歌) – tanka with a humorous or satirical bent. Another contemporary critic stated his style was ‘one with nobility…like the suffering of a beautiful woman.’ Although no longer considered to be in the first rank of poets of his time, such as Teika, Saigyō, and Princess Shokushi, he still produced much fine poetry which is still worth reading. For example:

村雨の露もまだひぬ眞木の葉に霧立ちのぼる秋の夕暮

murasame no tsuyu mo mada hinu maki no ha ni kiri tachinoboru aki no yūgure

A sudden shower of rain Lies, undrying, damp as dew Upon the pines, As the mist arises On this autumn evening.

which was chosen by Teika for inclusion in his Ogura Hyakunin Isshu 小倉百人一首 poetry collection.

Jakuren has the following poems in the Roppyaku-ban Uta Awase:

10 24 32 48 52 62 84 96 104 120

130 142 150 166 176 192 202 212 228 238

244 264 274 278 300 310 324 334 348 354

372 384 390 406 418 432 442 454 464 478

492 500 514 526 538 552 560 566 578 596

610 620 636 646 656 672 678 692 708 716

732 738 756 764 770 782 800 810 824 838

852 858 874 884 898 904 916 936 944 960

972 974 996 1002 1020 1026 1042 1056 1066 1080

1086 1096 1106 1126 1138 1152 1160 1172 1186 1198