MindZine - Go - Feature: Manoyshu Poetry

The Manyoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves) is the oldest anthology of poetry in Japan, compiled in the mid 8th century. Of the over 4,000 poems three appear to mention go. Two are written by an unnamed itinerant go master. The other is by the wife (go widow?) of some such person called Go no Dan'ochi - perhaps the same man.

Most of the poems (as here) are tanka - short verses of 31 syllables in a 5-7-5-7-7 pattern.

Kamu kaze no Ise no hamaogi ori fusete tabi-ne ya suramu - araki hamabe ni.

Where will he make his traveller's bed - by bending reeds on the stormy strand of windswept Ise?

The headnote says: "When Go no Dan'ochi went to Ise, his wife, remaining at home, composed this poem." Nothing is known of either person. This is Poem No. 500.

Ohobayama kasumi tanabiki sayo fukete waga fune hatemu tomari shirazu mo.

The mist lies in layers over the wooded slopes of Obayama as the night draws in. I want to berth my boat but I know not where.

The headnote says "Two verses by a go master." Obayama is in Kii province. This is poem No. 1732.

Omoitsutsu kuredo ki-kanete Miwo-ga-saki Managa no ura wo mata kaheri-mitsu.

Oh, the bay of Managa near Mio Cape! Thinking of it, I left but could not leave... and rowed back to see it yet again.

The headnote says: "Two verses by a go master." Miwogasaki is in Omi province. This is poem No. 1733.