Learning in the seminar of the Department of Japanese and East-Asian Studies

"Akane sasu, Murasaki no yuki, Shimeno yuki, does the field guard not see you waving your sleeves?" This is one of the representative waka poems included in the Manyoshu. The "purple" in the poem is a dye. As can be seen from the "shimenawa" (sacred rope), "shime" represents a no-entry area, and we can see that this is a poem about a picnic the royal family went to a dye field on the emperor's property.
This poem was sent by Nukata no Omi to the Crown Prince, Prince Oama. Nukata no Omi recites, "Don't wave your sleeves at me like that. The guards will see," as if they were having an affair. Waving your sleeves was an expression of affection at the time, so she boldly says, "You like me, don't you?" in front of the brothers, Emperor Tenchi and Prince Oama, with whom she had a delicate relationship. Prince Oama responded with a poem saying, "If I hated you, I wouldn't miss your wife so much." This is a song exchanged at a banquet, and apart from the actual relationship, it entertained everyone and was accepted as art, showing the generous attitude of the people at that time. However, this song makes you think that their feelings may have been true despite the appearance.

In this seminar, we will deal with the Manyoshu, a collection of classical literature, and each student will choose a poem from the collection and proceed with reading and commentary. The original text of the Manyoshu is a string of Chinese characters, so it is first necessary to restore it so that it can be read as a Japanese poem. To do this, we will read the poem while learning how to use tools such as dictionaries, indexes, and textbooks. In addition to accurately reading the poems, we will deepen our understanding by discussing their appeal and points of appreciation with all participants. You will feel the joy of adding new discoveries to what many people have accumulated in their research. Waka poems are composed with the thoughts you want to convey in just 31 characters. There are words and sincerity that people from more than a thousand years ago wove together in their hearts, thinking of someone. The real joy of studying the Manyoshu is to face and empathize with that sincerity.
When reading classical literature, not just the Manyoshu, we may encounter values that are difficult for us to empathize with. However, I believe that understanding the ways of thinking and expression of different people also leads to an understanding of the diversity that is necessary for us today.