Kokinshū

This book is the first complete translation of the tenth-century work Kokinshu, one of the most important anthologies of the Japanese classical tradition. Royally commissioned to return poetry to the public arena after a renewed interest in Chinese literature, its compilers linked the poems by topic, theme, imagery, and chronological and narrative progression to form an integrated anthology. Winner of the 1982 Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission's Friendship Literary Translation Award, Rodd's work presents annotated translations of the 1,111 poems, as well as translations of the Japanese and Chinese prefaces. Includes a translator's introduction and an essay on Chinese influences on the Kokinshu prefaces. Indexed.