I lived from 660-708. I was from Japan, and am in the Asian category.
Much of what is known about Hitomaro has been gleaned from his poems. His dates of birth and death are approximate not exact. From his poems we learn that Hitomaro was a middle-ranking courtier in Yamato and served as court poet to at least three sovereigns: Emperor Temmu (r. 673-686), Empress Jitô (r. 690-697) and Emperor Mommu (r. 697-707). Many of his poems were written for public occasions, his Lament for Prince Takechi perhaps being the best example. Other poems were written on occasions in his life when he was particularly moved Parting from his wife, or seeing a corpse.
Hitomaro is never merely an observer of a scene, but a participant in it and through his participation draws in the reader to the events described in his poems.
In terms of technique, he is a master of the makura kotoba ('pillow word'), using them to bring a sense of majesty to elements described in his poems, while his complex use of parallelism integrates his long poems into unified wholes.
He has 19 nagauta ('long poems') in the Manyoshu and 75 or so tanka ('short poems'). There is also the Hitomaro Kashu (Hitomaro Collection) containing a few hundred poems attributed to him, though some of these are possibly spurious.
Hitomaro is never merely an observer of a scene, but a participant in it and through his participation draws in the reader to the events described in his poems.
In terms of technique, he is a master of the makura kotoba ('pillow word'), using them to bring a sense of majesty to elements described in his poems, while his complex use of parallelism integrates his long poems into unified wholes.
He has 19 nagauta ('long poems') in the Manyoshu and 75 or so tanka ('short poems'). There is also the Hitomaro Kashu (Hitomaro Collection) containing a few hundred poems attributed to him, though some of these are possibly spurious.
Popular poetry
- A twist of folded grass, your pillow,
The only lodging on your journey;5 lines, 2 comments
