Which royal house writes poetry?
Jan 19th, 2008 by Ad Blankestijn
Which royal house in the world is interested in poetry? Which royals can even write poems themselves?
When the royals of this world are in the news, it is seldom for literary activities. No, they have been drunk, promiscuous, gambling… you name it. Of course there is a bias in the press for scandals, but I never read about poetry parties.
With one notable exception: the Japanese Imperial House.
[The Double Bridge leading into the Imperial Palace in Tokyo]
Every year since 1267, in the middle of January, the New Year’s Poetry Reading is held at the Japanese court. All members of the Imperial House have learned to write waka, the traditional poem developed by court aristocracy more than 1,200 years ago, and typically consisting of 31 syllables in a five-line pattern of 5-7-5-7-7. Many emperors in the past were accomplished poets and in modern times the waka written by the Meiji Emperor have even become quite famous – I bought a volume of his poems in the Meiji Shrine.
Every year there is a different theme for the Poetry Reading, set at the end of the year before. This year the subject was “fire.” In the past, only high-ranking court aristocrats were allowed to participate, but since 1874 also the general public can send in poems, of which ten are selected by a team of judges for the reading.
That Poetry Reading is a very solemn affair and the poems are rather sung in traditional style than read. It is covered every year by the press, on radio and television.
This year’s poem by the Emperor describes the scene of the opening ceremony of the National Sports Festival held in Akita Prefecture in late September 2007:
There stood the flame-stand
Ablaze with roaring flames.
Far beyond were woods
Beginning to change color
Aglow with autumn hues.
The poem by Empress Michiko is also very beautiful:
As we swing our lanterns,
Far-off lights shimmer in response
Swaying to and fro
This day of our journey
Now turning into night.
This refers to a regional visit where Their Majesties are welcomed by the people with lanterns and respond by slowly swinging their own lanterns right and left from the window of the hotel.
You can find more Imperial poetry (all the way from 1991) on the website of the Imperial Household Agency.
Is there a more cultural nation than Japan?
