Ten Styles of Tanka – Post 9 – January 28, 2016

the falling clouds
bring to mind fire and grief
as the wind whispers
visions of the past haunt me
of a winter long ago

G.s.k. ‘16

9. Exquisite detail – komayaka naru tei

This style is indicated by exact and precise details with often complex imagery. In Teika’s anthology of tanka styles he has 29 examples. One of which is one from the Kokinshū, #4:193, written by Ōno Chisato (890-905):

tsuki mireba / chiji ni mono koso / kanashikere / waga ni hitiostu no / /aki ni wa aranedo

gazing at the moon
a thousand sad things
overcome me
not only I feel this
in autumn alone

Carpe Diem Tokubetsudesu #66 Teika’s Ten Tanka Techniques by Jane Reichhold