Ariwara no Narihira
Ariwara no Narihira ( Japanese 在 原 業 平 ; * 825 ; † July 9, 880 ) was a Japanese Waka poet and aristocrat . He was one of the six waka poets mentioned in the preface to the Kokinshu of Ki no Tsurayuki written in Kana . He is seen as the hero of Ise Monogatari ( story of Ise ), who remains anonymous in the story itself, but whose love affairs would fit Narihira. He is one of the thirty-six immortals in poetry .
Life
He was the 5th son of Prince Abo, a son of Emperor Heizei . His mother, Princess Ito, was the daughter of Emperor Kammu , so he was related to Emperor Kammu in both paternal and maternal lines. Together with his brothers he was released into civilian life and given a new clan name, Ariwara .
Although he was descended from the highest nobility by descent, his political life, especially under the reign of Emperor Montoku , was not remarkable. During these 30 years he was not given a higher rank at court. The cause of this is believed to be a scandal that affected him and Fujiwara no Takaiko , an imperial wife, as well as another high-ranking lady. Both love affairs were mentioned in the Ise Monogotari .
As a waka poet, 30 of his waka were included in the kokin-wakashū . Traditionally, he was viewed as the role model for the hero of the Ise monogotari , which included many of his waka. However, not all of the waka contained therein are his work and some episodes can hardly have happened in his real life. Thanks to a reference in the preface of the Kokinshu , he is considered one of the Six Best Waka Poets .
He is traditionally seen as the embodiment of the beau homme in Japanese culture. It is believed that he was one of the men who inspired Murasaki Shikibu when she created Hikaru Genji , the hero of Genji Monogatari ; in particular the aspects of her story that concern the forbidden love between a woman of high standing and a member of the court.
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Ariwara no Narihira |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | 在 原 業 平 (Japanese) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Japanese waka poet and aristocrat |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 825 |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 9, 880 |