Composing poems on prescribed topics (analyzing Shotetsu monogatari)

Abstract

The article discusses the question of composing poems on prescribed topics, which was usual practice in composing classical Japanese poetry (waka). Analyzed is the text of Shotetsu monogatari written by poet Shotetsu in the middle of the XVth century Shotetsu highlights a number of problems in concern with the composing poems on prescribed topics, such as what kinds of topics are existed; what are the number of characters in the topic; which topics are easy and which topics are difficult for the poet; which topics should be chosen for poetry matches or meetings; on what topics is better to train young authors. Shotetsu examines a lot of specific examples of writing poems on a particular topic. The text of Shotetsu monogatari shows that the composition of poems on prescribed topics, dated back to the IXth century remained highly relevant at the end of the classical period of waka poetry.