[pp.189-194]

‹Research Report›Research on the animals described by the three major anthologies in ancient Japan

Tomoko MATSUMOTO and Yoshimitsu OMI （Chiba University）

Abstract:
We researched on the animals described by the three major anthologies in Japan, "MANYOU-SYU", "KOKINWAKASYU", and "SHIN-KOKINWAKASYU", in order to investigate about the relation between a people and animals. The major animals described at the poem in the three major anthologies in Japan, were birds. The frequency of appearance of the "Little cuckoo" described was especially higher than other animals. Japanese people were oftten observing the animals well and they were described at the poem. And the technique of the expression changed to the literary notation from realistic depiction. It turned out that the specific animals often used had a sense of the season or symbolism. The "little cuckoo" wsa the animal which symbolizes May, in three anthologies. The "wild goose" was the animal which symbolizes rice planting. The "Deer" was the animal which symbolizes autumn. And the "Bush warbler" was the animal which symbolizes spring. In "KOKINWAKASYU" and "SIN-KOKINWAKASYU", some animals were used as the religious symbol, and some one was used for the expression of feeling. And the animals, which were used by high frequency, had the combination with some plants in the poems. The combination of "Little cuckoo and plants" was common in the poems in three anthologies. "Wild goose", "Bushu warbler" and "Deer" had similar combinations.

Key Word:
animal, anthology, poem, Japanese poem, culture, symbol

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