Journey through the Ancient Imperial Capitals of Japan with Waka Poetry

We welcome Dr. Shogo Enokido, Researcher at the Manyo Culture Museum, who will speak about waka poetry and the ancient capitals of Japan.

Over more than 1,300 years of history, waka has continually evolved while maintaining its connection to the aristocratic culture centered around the emperor in ancient times. Since most poets of the era lived in or near the imperial capitals, it is only natural that their poems reflected the political activities and everyday life that unfolded there.

However, the ancient capitals were by no means fixed in one location. From the Asuka period through the Heian period, the seat of the court was relocated many times. Each capital had its own distinctive temporal and geographical characteristics, and the court life that developed in each setting must have varied accordingly.

This talk will trace the transformations of these ancient capitals as seen through the lens of waka poetry. From the Man’yōshū to the Kokin Wakashū, how were the imperial capitals depicted and represented in poetic expression? By drawing on photographs of the actual sites, we will explore how the image of the capital was reflected in the waka tradition.