Chiyojo

A haiku poet of the mid-Edo period. She is generally called Kaga no Chiyo or Chiyonami. She was the daughter of a paperhanger in Matto (Hakusan City), Kaga Province (Ishikawa Prefecture). According to the common belief, she married into the Fukuoka family, a foot soldier of the Kanazawa Domain, at the age of 18 and gave birth to one son, but her husband died soon after and her son also died young, and she returned to Matto. However, most documents prove that she was unmarried. She matured precociously, and her talent for haiku became well-known in the surrounding area from the age of 16 or 17. She was recognized by Shiko of the Mino school and Otsuyu of the Ise school, and enjoyed a great reputation as a female haiku poet, which was rare at the time. She shaved her head at the age of 51 and thereafter used the name Soen. Her style of writing was generally popular, but her witty and intellectual style made her popular among the people of her time. Her haiku collections include "Chiyo-ni Kushu" and "The Voice of the Pine Tree." Her grave is unknown.

[Minoru Horikiri]

Water from the morning glory

"Complete Works of Chiyo of Kaga" edited by Jodou Nakamoto, 1 volume (1958, Dosho Kankokai)" ▽ "Research on Chiyo of Kaga" by Jodou Nakamoto (1972, Hokkoku Shuppansha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸中期の俳人。一般に加賀の千代、また千代尼ともよばれる。加賀国（石川県）松任(まっとう)（白山(はくさん)市）の表具屋の女(むすめ)。通説によると、18歳のとき金沢藩の足軽福岡家に嫁し、一男をあげたが、まもなく夫に死別、子も早世して松任に帰ったと伝えられるが、文献的にはむしろ未婚であったことを証するものが多い。早熟で、16、7歳のころから俳諧(はいかい)の才が近国に評判となり、美濃(みの)派の支考、伊勢(いせ)派の乙由(おつゆう)らにも認められて、当時としては珍しい女流俳人として名声をほしいままにした。剃髪(ていはつ)は51歳のころで、以後素園と号している。作風は概して通俗的であり、とくに気のきいた理知の働きを含んだ風調が、当時世の人々に喜ばれた。句集に『千代尼句集』『松の声』。墓所は不明である。

［堀切　實］

　朝顔に釣瓶(つるべ)とられてもらひ水

『中本恕堂編『加賀の千代全集』全1巻（1958・同書刊行会）』▽『中本恕堂著『加賀の千代研究』（1972・北国出版社）』

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