Kokin Wakashu

The Kokin Wakashu is an ancient Japanese poetry anthology compiled around 905 CE, representing one of the earliest and most influential collections of Japanese waka (short poems). It was created under imperial commission to showcase the nation’s poetic heritage and standards, blending Chinese influences with Japanese themes such as nature, love, and seasons. Organized into thematic and seasonal sections, it reflects the aesthetic values and cultural sophistication of early Japan. The Kokin Wakashu not only preserved poetic tradition but also shaped the development of Japanese literature, influencing subsequent anthologies and poetic practices for centuries.