매화가의 와카사적 고찰 - 다비토의 梅花宴歌를 중심으로-

Abstract

This dissertation researched and observed “Poems of Flower of Apricots,” from historical perspective of Japanese poetry. The flower of apricots, originally from China, has been used as subject matter of Japanese poetry from AD 710. The flower of apricots became to be in favor of Chinese writers’ eye because it has been considered as representation of their dignity. At the same period time, nature poetry and indoor gardening was also contemporary trend with the songs of the flower of apricots. Based on the historical background, this study traced how the songs of the flower of apricots had become popular among Japanese writers, with the songs for Tabito’s banquet as the primary sources. As a result, the researcher discovered that its format was transferred from Chinese classical poetry to Waka, and its contents were influenced by Chinese classical poetry singing fallen petals of the flower of apricots. Manyoshu has 118 songs of the flower of apricots, however, just one poem is singing the scent of the flower written by Ichiharano Okimi. Except this one song, the other 117 poems praise about appearance of the flower. According to this fact, the trend of the poems of apricots’ flower mainly dealt with its appearance in the age of Manyoshu. Therefore, the concept that the poems of the flower of apricots contains praise for its scent had been appeared in the age of Heian. In further study, the researcher would seek the trend of the poems of the flower of Japanese apricots by focusing on the history of Waka.