Saigū no Nyōgo

Saigū no Nyōgo by Kanō Naonobu, 1648

Princess Kishi (929–985, 徽子女王, also Yoshiko Joō 承香殿女御 Jokyōden Joō or 斎宮女御 Saigū no Nyōgo) was a Japanese Waka poet of the middle Heian period.[1] She is one of only five women numbered as one of the Thirty-six Poetry Immortals.[2] As her name implies, she was a princess of the Imperial Family of Japan. She was one of Emperor Murakami's consorts, and gave birth to one daughter, Imperial Princess Kishi, and a son.[2] Through her father, Imperial Prince Shigeakira, she was the granddaughter of Emperor Daigo. Prior to becoming a consort she served as Ise Priestess, chief priestess of the Ise Shrine.[3]

Many of her poems are included in the third Japanese imperial poetry anthology, Shūi Wakashū, issued in 1006.

References

  1. ^ Larking, Matthew (29 October 2019). "The scrolls that keep immortal poets truly alive". The Japan Times. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b Bundy, Rosalee (2012). "Men and Women at Play: The Male-Female Poetry Contests of Emperor Murakami's Court". Japanese Language and Literature. 46 (2): 221–260.
  3. ^ "Queen Kishi". Retrieved 4 August 2020.