Knowra Ōtomo no Yakamochi Ōtomo no Yakamochi Ōtomo no Yakamochi was an eighth-century Japanese poet and court official, traditionally credited with compiling much of the Man’yōshū, Japan’s oldest surviving poetry anthology.
Man’yōshū : An eighth-century Japanese anthology of more than 4,500 poems, the oldest surviving collection of Japanese poetry. Yakamochi’s poems form a substantial part of this anthology, whose compilation is traditionally attributed to him.
Haru no Sono : A celebrated spring poem in the Man’yōshū that describes blossoms scattered by the wind. This poem is among the best-known works associated with Yakamochi.
Ōtomo clan : A powerful Japanese aristocratic clan whose members held military and political offices in the early imperial court. Yakamochi’s lineage connected him to a court family with a long record of service.
Kokin Wakashū : A Japanese imperial poetry anthology compiled in the early tenth century under Emperor Daigo’s order. Its later courtly tradition contrasts with the older and more varied poetry Yakamochi’s anthology preserves.
Tanka : A Japanese poetic form built around five phrases of 5, 7, 5, 7, and 7 sound units. Many poems associated with Yakamochi use this compact verse form.
Man’yōgana : A writing system that used Chinese characters phonetically and semantically to represent early Japanese. The Man’yōshū’s text, including poems from Yakamochi’s circle, was recorded in this system.
Ōtomo no Tabito : A Japanese court official and poet of the early eighth century, and Yakamochi’s father. Tabito’s poetry and status formed an immediate family model for Yakamochi.
Japanese poetry : Poetry composed in Japanese, encompassing traditional forms such as waka and later genres. The Man’yōshū became a foundational source for the history of Japanese verse.
Waka : A traditional Japanese poetic genre, especially verse composed in forms such as tanka. Yakamochi wrote within the courtly waka tradition preserved by the Man’yōshū.
Man’yōshū Book 20 : The final book of the Man’yōshū, containing poems linked to Yakamochi’s later years and military service. Its dated poems provide a particularly clear record of Yakamochi’s poetic activity.
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