Toshiyori's Brain

This book is a treatise on waka poetry written by Minamoto no Toshiyori, a leader in the Insei period waka world during the late Heian period. It is believed to have been written around 1112 (Ten'ei 3) for Fujiwara no Isao (later Empress Toba-in, Takayanoin Yasuko, after changing her name). It is also known by other names such as "Toshiyori Mumyosho," "Shunpisho," and "Toshiyori Kudenshu." Although it is an introductory guide to waka poetry, it aims to be a broad, systematic work that begins with theories on waka style, waka illnesses, and the effectiveness of waka poetry, and goes on to theories on themes, excellent waka poetry, and waka language. Overall, it concretely explains the works from the standpoint of actual composition, and also includes a wealth of waka tales. Toshiyori's desire for innovation is clearly apparent, and it had a major influence on later waka studies and waka theory.

[Junichi Kondo]

"Toshiyori's Brain" edited by Hashimoto Fumio (included in "Complete Works of Japanese Classical Literature 50: Collection of Poetry Essays", 1975, Shogakukan)" ▽ "Sasaki Nobutsuna (ed.), Kusogami Noboru (1963), "Japanese Poetry Studies Series 1" (Kazama Shobo)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安後期、院政期歌壇の指導者源俊頼(としより)が書いた歌論書。1112年（天永3）ごろ、藤原勲子（後の鳥羽(とば)院皇后・高陽院(かやのいん)泰子＝改名）のために述作したらしい。『俊頼無名抄(むみょうしょう)』『俊秘(しゅんぴ)抄』『俊頼口伝(くでん)集』などの別名でも伝わっている。入門指南のための和歌概説ながら、歌体論、歌病論、和歌効用論から始めて、題詠論、秀歌論、歌語論に及ぶ広い体系的述作を志している。全体に実作の立場から具体的に作品を解明し、和歌説話も豊富に取り込んでいる。俊頼の新風志向がはっきりうかがわれ、後の歌学、歌論に大きな影響を与えた。

［近藤潤一］

『橋本不美男校注『俊頼髄脳』（『日本古典文学全集50　歌論集』所収・1975・小学館）』▽『佐佐木信綱編、久曽神昇著『日本歌学大系1』（1963・風間書房）』

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