What is
Tanka?
Tanka is the name of an ancient form of Japanese poetry.
Tanka are 31-syllable poems that have been the most popular form
of poetry in Japan for at least 1300 years. As a form of poetry, tanka
is older than haiku, and tanka poems evoke a moment or mark an
occasion with concision and musicality.
During Japan's Heian period (794-1185 A.D.) it was considered
essential for a woman or man of culture to be able to both compose
beautiful poetry and to choose the most aesthetically pleasing and
appropriate paper, ink, and symbolic attachment---such as a branch,
a flower---to go with it.
Tanka were often composed as a kind of finale to every sort of
occasion; no experience was quite complete until a tanka had been
written about it.
Tanka is another form of Japanese poetry that depends on the
number of lines and syllables instead of rhyme. This is the pattern:
line 1 = 5 syllables
line 2 = 7 syllables
line 3 = 5 syllables
line 4 = 7 syllables
line 5 = 7 syllables
Sample One
no resemblance
these two caterpillars
chewing the same hedge
only by intercession
will they ever meet YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Sample Two
Create a tanka that expresses the
Blossoms floating down
Through the tangled canopy beauty Japanese appreciate in their
Treetops wave unseen; daily lives. Think of their
Jade green rice bowls, his and hers
appreciation of nature, their
On the petal tatami
gardens, or their tea ceremonies.
Sample Three
Turning away Your tanka must be TYPED. It
from a mountain of color must be mounted on construction
the old woman finds
one leaf in her shadow paper OR printed on decorative
paper. It should have an image of
Sample Four
nature relevant to the topic either in
Walking out in snow the print of the special paper, as a
and back in snow
to farthest lights graphic, or cut out of construction
showing each flake paper…or, be creative.
even in the storm
Ideas...flower, bonsai, leaves,
Sample Five cherry blossom...
The rain on the window
and in the garden Remember, in Japan, presentation
through the maple's bareness is everything. Take great pride in
flowering
the winter jasmine your work. This assignment is due
Friday, October 6.
Study the tanka samples above.
Only one is correct! Count the
syllables to find out which one!