Hyakunin isshu karuta 百人一首 歌留多

Size: 1 7/8 x 2 5/8 in. each card

Hykunin isshu (100 Poems & 100 Poets) is a collection of 100 short poems, known as tanka. Tanka is a form of Japanese traditional poetry of just five lines with a total of 31 syllables grouped in lines of 5, 7 5, 7 and 7 syllables. The first three lines, composed of 17 syllables, are called kaminoku, and the final two lines, composed of 14 syllables, are called shimonoku. These groups of lines create a beautiful rhythm. During the latter half of the Heian period (late eighth to late 12th century), poetry writing to express the beauty of nature or feelings of love became extremely popular among the aristocracy. It was against this backdrop that the Hyakunin isshu anthology was compiled around 1235 as a collection of 100 poems from 100 poets dating from the mid-seventh century onward. This collection was then adapted into the karuta card game, where one person reads out a poem and the player who most quickly identifies the card with the corresponding picture or character wins the card.(1), opens in a new window 1. http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/cool/12-03-15/index.html, opens in a new window