One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets October 18, 2009

The Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, or "One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets for the Ogura District Residence," was compiled by Fujiwara no Teika (1162-1241) in the 13th century. He was requested to make the poetry anthology by his son, Fujiwara no Tame'ie, who may also have been involved in its completion. Composed by members of the imperial family and high-ranking courtiers from the 7th through the 13th centuries, the poems are waka, literally "Japanese songs," a form of court poetry consisting of thirty-one syllables arranged in five lines of 5, 7, 5, 7, 7 syllables each.