Tanka

The Tanka (Japanese短歌, German short poem ) is at least 1300 years old unrhymed Japanese poem ( waka ) with 31 Moren. She is older than haiku, which evolved from the Tanka. A Tanka evokes the moment, holding him with precision and musicality.

In the anthology Man'yōshū - originated 400-759 and issued to 760 - there is the shape of the Tanka ago and they thrived in the medieval Shinkokinwakashū (Eng. new collection of old and new poems) ( 1205 ), a collection aristocratic courtly poetry to highest bloom.

Tanka were often used to give any kind of occasions a worthy conclusion. So also, special attention was paid to the beauty of the poem and the aesthetic form. The same paper, ink, calligraphy and a symbolic addition, as a branch or a leaf were used.

Although the Tanka evolved over the centuries, it retained 31 Moren, corresponding to 31 Kana.

In Japan, tanka is often written in a single line, in other languages ​​often in the form 5-7-5-7-7 morae per line. Here, a division into two parts is common, which may originate from different people: 5-7-5 as the first part (upper gallery ), usually with annual temporal content, and 7-7 as the second part ( connector or under tunnels ). From this then a kind of chain packing, the Renga. The Rengameister watched over the observance of the form, which continued to perform well independently.

A blank line can be set ( but need not) between the two parts (upper tunnel, connecting tunnels ). This illustrates a substantive turning point that is noticeable between the two parts. For the first part, the upper gallery, like a haiku draw a picture or idea. This image is in the second part, the port tunnel, completed and opened to the reader new lines of thought.

By omitting the second part of the Tanka, the connecting tunnel, finally was also a shape that evolved into the haiku.

The rather strict rules of haiku also apply to the Tanka. In particular, rhymes and word repetitions are to be avoided.

Tanka example of an unknown poet from the Man'yōshū:

In the storm of autumn the mountains flying over there the cry of the wild goose, the continued pulls into the distance, deeply hidden in clouds.

Yoshimi Kondō (1913-2006) was one of the most important Japanese poets of the post-war period, who published his verses without exception in Tanka. He also served as President of the Association of tanka poet who Mirai Tankakai.

Syllable count

Are counted kana characters ( opening hours, Moren ), since the most of those are for a consonant with the following vowel, they often correspond to a syllable. However, a stand-alone n, the small tsu not spoken to consonant doubling and a Vokallängung takes own talk time and a character to claim from us but they are not seen as syllables, ie Konban wa does not count 3 but 5 times yuurei not two, but four, not kappa 2, but 3