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Ryūka

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Ryūka (poetry) (琉歌, Ryūka, "short poem of Ryukyu") is a genre of poetry in the Ryukyu Islands and Amami Ōshima composed in Ryukyuan languages. In the latter island, it is also called Shimauta (island poem). Ryūka is different from Tanka (poetry) of Japan.

Standard Ryūka

Ryūka consists of four units (often treated as separate lines when romanized or translated) usually with the following pattern of onji:

8-8-8-6, while Japanese Tanka is 5-7-5-7-7. There are other forms of Ryūka such as 7-5-8-6 or 5-5-8-6 or longer Ryūka with 8-8-8-8-8-8-8...-6.

Examples of Ryūka

History

  • The Satsuma clan invaded Ryukyu Kingdom(modern-day Okinawa Prefecture) in 1609. Apparently the word Ryuka appeared after the introduction of Japanese culture. The first Ryukyuan language dictionary titled Konko-kenshu published in 1711 recorded the word Ryuka for the first time. The writers of Ryuka were not only those in the upper class, but also included a girl who was sold to the Red-light district called Yoshiya Chiru and a woman farmer of passion called Onna Nabe.
  • Ryūka was composed for singing with Sanshin for one thing, and was composed as literature which developed under the influences of Tanka of Japan. Ryuka is composed even today, and is appreciated in everyday life; for instance, it plays a part in such as the Ryukyuan Dance Kumi Odori.
A monument of Ryuka at Naha Port
  • Ryuka is popular now not only in people living in Ryukyu proper, but also in Ryukyuan people who have immigrated to Peru and Hawaii.[7]

Subjects

  • Older literature of the Ryukyu Islands included prayer for prosperity of the community, good harvest, glorification of kings and superiors, namely, poetry of the mass, while Ryūka dealt with the feelings of individuals. Ryuka may be classified into 1) celebration poetry 2) seasonal or scenery poetry 3) love poetry 4) teaching poetry 5) travel poetry 6) smallpox poetry. Of these classifications, love poetry is well described in Ryuka. Peculiar is the smallpox poetry; the purpose of glorification of smallpox demon is improvement from deadly infection of smallpox.[8] There is a collection of smallpox poetry including 105 poems published in 1805.[9]

See also

References

  • Kei Higa Okinawa Encyclopedia1983, Okinawa Times, Naha, jou, chu, ge.
  • Yoji Aoyama Ryūka Omoshiro Tokuhon (Interesting Ryukas) 1998, Kyodo Shuppan, Naha
  • Nihon Shodou Bijutukan Ryuka - the heart of the poems of the Southern Island 1992, Kyoiku Shodo Shuppan Kyokai, Tokyo
  • Masanori Nakahodo Various aspects of Okinawan literature, Postwar literature, Dialect poems, Dramas, Ryūka, Tanka 2010, Borderink, Naha, ISBN 978-4-89982-168-7

Footnotes

  1. ^ Nihon Shodou[1992:74]
  2. ^ Aoyama[1998:200]
  3. ^ Aoyama[1998:171]
  4. ^ Nihon Shodou[1992:76]
  5. ^ Nihon Shodou[1992:98]
  6. ^ Nihon Shodou(1992:100]
  7. ^ Nakahodo[2010:220-252]
  8. ^ Higa[1983ge:848]
  9. ^ Higa[1983ge:450]