Nen 247 Share Posted April 20 [!] Several copies of a leatherbound book have appeared in Sakuragakure, bearing fine calligraphy and artistic depictions of the characters within. 四歌仙 GRAND RECORD OF THE FOUR POETRY IMMORTALS ___________ Foreword I, Kakinomoto no Akahito, in possession of ancient poetic scrolls passed down for countless generations within my bloodline, have sought to transcribe and compile an anthology of the Four Immortals of Classical Oyashiman poetry, who were foundational in the standardization of the classical waka, choka, haiku, and haikai styles now enjoyed in tavern and court alike. ___________ I. 遍照 Konjō An ancient monk from Bachi-shoto, his early life was faced with the wanton destruction of the Fourth Great Pirate Disturbance which decimated the port cities of the Western archipelago. He was the first poet to practice the choka style, which typically but not always features alternating lines of five and seven syllables. His imagery revolved around the pursuit of internal harmony and political unity. ___________ “Heart of Oyashi scattered across the turtles and shattered by stormy seas brought together again under the blossom of sakura trees” ___________ “A stack of old books fingers stained by ink and quill to be wise is tiring” ___________ “Sharp like the horn of oni but tender like the summer sun are words from the lips of a lover” ___________ II. 祐子内親王家紀伊 Izumi Taishinnō-ke no Kii The first daughter of the mythical Daimyo Asatada of the famed Fujiwara clan, her mother was of common origins. Married to the second son of the Shogun, Izumi was renowned in her time for her beauty and sensibility. Primarily practicing the court-standard waka style, she exuded the traditional Oyashiman melancholy. She nobly committed seppuku during the Heavenly Disruption of Commerce to avoid being taken hostage by the infamous Li-ren invader Chao Ling, the bastard Marquis of Bongleng. ___________ “Meaningless, meaningless to watch the flowers wither but while their beauty fades My heart opens again.” ___________ “Winter nights are long seeming endless as the sea from Yamatai to Gushiken The kami warm our tea” ___________ “No, I do not want My wants are ever-shifting Like a sand-snake in the desert“ ___________ III. 天命開柿本別天皇 Kakinomoto no Taifu, posthumous name Amenokotohirakasuwake Perhaps the most famous of the ancient classical waka-poets in the old country, Taifu was the progenitor of the Kakinomoto line, a long-standing family of yōsei poets, calligraphers, and philosophers from Dodaitase. He was the court poet for three Shoguns across seven decades, and for this was granted the posthumous name Amenokotohirakasuwake. His verses characteristically espouse the natural beauty of the islands of Oyashi.___________ “Dull moon in the sky, The misty autumn night Concealed in a blanket The stag and wolf alike” ___________ “Footsteps of shinobi like raindrops upon the roof A humble pitter-patter Signaling the season new” ___________ “Crashing thunder and roaring waves Triumphant are the winds of Dodaitose.” ___________ “Diamonds and gold, Kimonos of silk Even the blossoming sakura Has not the splendor of parenthood.” ___________ IV. 素性法師 Akabeko Jinsai The first and most esteemed of the oni poets, he lived in the early days when humans and oni-kind first began to intermix. Initially fearing him to be a raider, the villagers of Chomokyo, a fishing town in Fukukaze, soon learned his loud grunting had a soulful rhythm. He is the founder of the haikai-style, a baser genre popular in taverns and under the influence of sake, with imagery revolving around the mundane and vulgar pleasures of daily life. It is said that he sired as many children as he wrote verses, and some believe his spirit to have incarnated as a minor kami of fertility following his death; they call him Akabeko-kami and light candles in his honour. ___________ “Konnichi’ug Your mother’s bosom I rest there Yare yare.” ___________ “Butahito, katsuhito Small small man Majo majo, majomomo Oni lady big.” ___________ “Smoke of cactus green High on mountain top, Ahshu dubai gasu fushi Down goes the large rock” ___________ Transcribed with reference to ancient familial scrolls, this anthology of poetry was compiled in Year 177 SA (1154 Kamijikan) [!] A signature stamp was boldly imprinted at the bottom 柿本赤人 Kakinomoto no Akahito 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johann 1419 Share Posted April 20 Upon a fine morning a monastic knight poured over the contents of the fine poetry over a cup of warm Matcha tea and, feeling inspired, he decides to write a poem of his own to reflect on recent events: "Scourges of the world, Duty-bound we are to slay, A mirthless quandary, With sin comes a price to pay." 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SacredSource 225 Share Posted April 21 A knight within the same monastery looks upon the words of the missive. An aspiring poet himself, he decides to join his compatriots on this pursuit of literary expression in form of Haiku: "Xan, Xan, he's our man, Slays the dragons where they stand, If he can't, none can." 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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