Suō no Naishi (周防内侍, dates unknown, but probably died around 1110; given name Taira no Nakako) was a Japanese waka poet of the late-Heian period. One of her poems was included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, and thirty-five in imperial collections. She also produced a private waka collection, the Suō no Naishi-shū.
Biography edit
The daughter of Taira no Munenaka (平棟仲), the governor of Suō Province, her date of birth is unknown.[1][2][3] Her given name was Nakako (仲子).[1][2][3]
She served as handmaiden (内侍, naishi) in the courts of four emperors, Go-Reizei, Go-Sanjō, Shirakawa and Horikawa.[1][2][3]
In 1108, she took ordination as a Buddhist nun due to illness.
The date of her death is unknown,[1][3] but she probably died around 1110.[2]
Poetry edit
Thirty-five of her poems were included in imperial anthologies from the Goshūi Wakashū on.[1][2]
The following poem by her was included as No. 67 in Fujiwara no Teika's Ogura Hyakunin Isshu:
| Japanese text[4] | Romanized Japanese[5] | English translation[6] |
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She left a private collection, the Suō no Naishi-shū (周防内侍集).
References edit
Bibliography edit
- McMillan, Peter. 2010 (1st ed. 2008). One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each. New York: Columbia University Press.
- Suzuki Hideo, Yamaguchi Shin'ichi, Yoda Yasushi. 2009 (1st ed. 1997). Genshoku: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. Tokyo: Bun'eidō.
External links edit
- List of Suō no Naishi's poems in the International Research Center for Japanese Studies's online waka database.
- Suō no Naishi on Kotobank.