Honkadori
Encyclopedia
In Japanese poetry, is an allusion
within a poem, to an older poem which would be generally recognized by its potential readers. Honkadori possesses qualities of yūgen and in Japanese art. The concept emerged in the 12th century during the Kamakura period
. Honkadori is one of several terms in Japanese poetry used to describe allusion, another being .
and poems such as those found in the Kokinshū and the Shin Kokinshū.
In a narrative story, honkadori are often found in the form of a poem spoken by one of the characters. In a waka
poem, this is usually the first line of the poem. Honkadori is not merely a reference to another poem even though lines are sometimes copied word for word. The use of honkadori attempts to affect the reader in the same way as the original poem, the only difference being in the meaning and atmosphere. Debates occur while interpreting poems over the difference between honkadori and seishi (lines from poetry which have already been used and are not allowed to be repeated
, or poetry competitions, a “good” poem was not merely one that expressed emotions in a unique and beautiful way. Rather, poets were judged on their mastery of using their knowledge of existing poems and the way in which they placed honkadori and other poetic tropes into their poems. In this way, the use of honkadori added depth to the poem because the poet displayed his mastery of Japanese poetic tropes, signifying a mastery of Japanese poetry.
defined the use of honkadori. His interpretation of honkadori was limited to a selective audience of aristocrats and members of the Japanese court who were well versed in all Japanese poetry and tropes. Therefore, for Fujiwara no Teika the context and use of honkadori were dependent on the reader. The skilful use of honkadori is then found in the balance between not being plagiarism, and still evoking the context of the original poem.
Gazing out over
Mist-shrouded foothills
Beyond the river Minare,
Who could have thought
Evenings are autumn?
Retired Emperor Go-Toba
Allusion to Sei Shōnagon's
assertion in The Pillow Book
that evening is the most beautiful moment of an autumn day.
1035:
Another evening’s sighs:
Have I forgotten
This hidden longing
Is mine alone to suffer
As days become months?
Princess Shokushi
An allusion to Tsurayuki’s poem below.
Kokinshū: 606
Keeping this longing
Hidden within is what hurts –
With only me to hear my sighs
Ki no Tsurayuki
Allusion
An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. M. H...
within a poem, to an older poem which would be generally recognized by its potential readers. Honkadori possesses qualities of yūgen and in Japanese art. The concept emerged in the 12th century during the Kamakura period
Kamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo....
. Honkadori is one of several terms in Japanese poetry used to describe allusion, another being .
Context
This style of quoting is a common trope in many ancient Japanese works of literature including stories such as the Tale of GenjiThe Tale of Genji
is a classic work of Japanese literature attributed to the Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century, around the peak of the Heian period. It is sometimes called the world's first novel, the first modern novel, the first psychological novel or the first novel still to be...
and poems such as those found in the Kokinshū and the Shin Kokinshū.
In a narrative story, honkadori are often found in the form of a poem spoken by one of the characters. In a waka
Waka (poetry)
Waka or Yamato uta is a genre of classical Japanese verse and one of the major genres of Japanese literature...
poem, this is usually the first line of the poem. Honkadori is not merely a reference to another poem even though lines are sometimes copied word for word. The use of honkadori attempts to affect the reader in the same way as the original poem, the only difference being in the meaning and atmosphere. Debates occur while interpreting poems over the difference between honkadori and seishi (lines from poetry which have already been used and are not allowed to be repeated
Use in uta-awase
Because poetry in Japan was often written for utaawaseUtaawase
, poetry contests or waka matches, are a distinctive feature of the Japanese literary landscape from the Heian period. Significant to the development of Japanese poetics, the origin of group composition such as renga, and a stimulus to approaching waka as a unified sequence and not only as...
, or poetry competitions, a “good” poem was not merely one that expressed emotions in a unique and beautiful way. Rather, poets were judged on their mastery of using their knowledge of existing poems and the way in which they placed honkadori and other poetic tropes into their poems. In this way, the use of honkadori added depth to the poem because the poet displayed his mastery of Japanese poetic tropes, signifying a mastery of Japanese poetry.
Fujiwara no Teika and his interpretation
Among Japanese poets, Fujiwara no TeikaFujiwara no Teika
Fujiwara no Teika , also known as Fujiwara no Sadaie or Sada-ie, was a Japanese poet, critic, calligrapher, novelist, anthologist, scribe, and scholar of the late Heian and early Kamakura periods...
defined the use of honkadori. His interpretation of honkadori was limited to a selective audience of aristocrats and members of the Japanese court who were well versed in all Japanese poetry and tropes. Therefore, for Fujiwara no Teika the context and use of honkadori were dependent on the reader. The skilful use of honkadori is then found in the balance between not being plagiarism, and still evoking the context of the original poem.
Examples from Shin Kokinshū
36.Gazing out over
Mist-shrouded foothills
Beyond the river Minare,
Who could have thought
Evenings are autumn?
Retired Emperor Go-Toba
Allusion to Sei Shōnagon's
Sei Shonagon
Sei Shōnagon , was a Japanese author and a court lady who served the Empress Teishi around the year 1000 during the middle Heian period. She is best known as the author of The Pillow Book .-Name:...
assertion in The Pillow Book
The Pillow Book
is a book of observations and musings recorded by Sei Shōnagon during her time as court lady to Empress Consort Teishi during the 990s and early 11th century in Heian Japan. The book was completed in the year 1002....
that evening is the most beautiful moment of an autumn day.
1035:
Another evening’s sighs:
Have I forgotten
This hidden longing
Is mine alone to suffer
As days become months?
Princess Shokushi
An allusion to Tsurayuki’s poem below.
Kokinshū: 606
Keeping this longing
Hidden within is what hurts –
With only me to hear my sighs
Ki no Tsurayuki
Sources
- Brower, Robert H. Fujiwara Teika's Hundred-Poem Sequence of the Shoji Era, Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 31, No. 3. (Autumn, 1976) pp. 223–249