Akazome Emon

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In this Japanese name, the surname is Akazome.
Akazome Emon depicted in c. 1765 ink and color Kusazōshi by

Akazome Emon (赤染衛門, late 950s or early 960s – 1041 or later) was a Japanese waka poet and early historian who lived in the mid-Heian period. She is a member both of the (中古三十六歌仙, Chūko Sanjūrokkasen) and the (女房三十六歌仙, Nyōbō Sanjūrokkasen).

Biography[]

Akazome Emon's year of birth is unknown,[1] but she was likely born between Tentoku 1 (957) and Kōhō 1 (964).[1] She was officially the daughter of Akazome Tokimochi (赤染時用),[1] but the late-Heian karonsho (book of poetic criticism)  [ja] records that her biological father was her mother's first husband, Taira no Kanemori.[1]

A poetic exchange between Emon and Fujiwara no Michitaka, dating to around Ten'en 2 (974) to Jōgen 2 (977),[1] when she was likely in her late teens, is the earliest dateable event in her life.[1] At roughly this time, she went to serve in the household of Minamoto no Masanobu,[1] and for a long time thereafter she served his daughter (ja), the wife of Fujiwara no Michinaga.[1]

It was also around this time (Ten'en–Jōgen) that she married  [ja],[1] a Confucian scholar and poet of both waka and kanshi. They had a son,  [ja],[1] a daughter, (江侍従),[1] and one more daughter.[1] The couple were considered to be "lovebirds" (おしどり夫婦, oshidori fūfu).[citation needed]

According to her personal waka collection, the (赤染衛門集), when Masahira was twice sent to serve in Owari Province, she accompanied him both times.[1] The collection also indicates that she worked to ensure her son's professional success at court[1] and presenting poems as offerings to Sumiyoshi Shrine[clarification needed] when he fell ill.[1] The Fukuro-zōshi portrays her as gently supporting her husband when he was overwhelmed by his official duties.[1] These works present Emon as a good wife and wise mother (良妻賢母 ryōsai kenbo).[1] She also devoted much effort to her service as Rinshi's lady-in-waiting.[1]

In Chōwa 1 (1012), her husband died,[1] and a few years later Emon became a nun.[1] She apparently lived a long and tranquil life from this point,[1] living to see the birth of her great grandson Ōe no Masafusa in Chōkyū 2 (1041).[1]

Akazome Emon served and Fujiwara no Shōshi, respectively the wife and daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga, and she was present at the Imperial court at the same time as Izumi Shikibu. She was a contemporary of Murasaki Shikibu, who praised her writing, and Sei Shōnagon.

The year of her death is uncertain,[1] but she probably lived until at least 1041.[1]

Poetry and other writings[]

Emon remained active in waka composition until late in life,[1] contributing poems to uta-awase competitions on the sixteenth day of the fifth month of Chōgen 8 (1035), the (関白左大臣家歌合),[1] and 1041, the (弘徽殿女御歌合).[1] She also contributed a (屏風歌 byōbu-uta) to celebrate Rinshi's seventieth year, in 1033.[1]

She left a personal collection, the ,[1] and she is also believed to have been the writer of the first part of Eiga Monogatari.[1] Her poetry was incorporated into court anthologies from the Shūi Wakashū on.[1] She ranks fourth in the number of her poems that were included in the Goshūi Wakashū,[1] with a total of 32.[1] More than 60 of her poems were included in the Kin'yō Wakashū and later court anthologies.[1]

In her article on Emon, called her poetic style unexceptional.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Saitō 1986, p. 3.

Cited works[]

  • (1986). "Akazome Emon". In ; ; ; Ono, Hiroshi; ; ; (eds.). Waka Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Meiji Shoin. p. 3. ISBN 4-625-40029-5.

Further reading[]

External links[]

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