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.
Though my nose is depressed due to syphilis(medically, saddle node)
Please use me as long as I am alive (The composer was blamed for using broken coins)(Torisashi Kobashigawa)
Kakesen (broken coins) and saddle nose due to syphilis are Kakekotoba. In the Edo period, there was a great prevalence of syphilis in the Ryukyu islands.[3]
I came to Miyegusuku Castle to see someone off
But the ship sailed so fast as usual, so, it went out of my sight in an instance[4]
The boat sailing at night depends on the polar star for direction
Important is, in willows, their green color, flowers, their red color
In Ume trees, their scent, in humans, their hearts. (Akainko)[6]
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.
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]
