Ki no Tsurayukis Tosa Diary, AD 935

Writing Assignment: Please write a theme on one of these

topics. Remember to carefully integrate citations from the
text concerned into your narrative. Make sure your paper
has a clearly expressed theme and good logical
progression.
(1) Select several poems from the diary: how are miyabi
sentiments or 'attributes' shown -- or not? Note any
connections between the status of the poet and the courtly
'quality' of the work identified. What conclusions can you
draw from these connections?
(2) This presumably fictionalized diary was written by a
man, the poet-courtier Ki no Tsurayuki but narrated by a
female. What feminine touches does the lady narrator
display? On the other hand, how does the 'male' authorial
voice also come through?
(3) People in courtly societies display a strong awareness
of their status and perceived differenc with others both up
and down the social ladder. How does the narrator (or
author, indirectly) reveal a hierarchical consciousness? How
are country folk portrayed, for example? Do they ever
succeed entirely in 'possessing' miyabi?
(4) Courtiers love spectacle, the opportunity to display
their miyabi-ness, their intelligence, wit, powers of
discrimination and coquettish indirection, delicate
sensitivity, humor and so forth, these all part of their
"superior" status and super-refinement. Producing poetry
to impress or delight others is also a spectacle of its own.
Please find two examples of social or poetic spectacle in
the text as you read it.
(5) Poetry was a skill that courtly people had to master. The
narrator likes to comment, directly or indirectly (sometimes
the writer Tsurayuki himself can also be heard) on the skills

of others who composed poems in her group. Notice how

there seems to be a desire in this commentary to educate
the reader (courtiers). Find some examples, at least two, of
how the narrator either describes what is, specifies what
she sees as normal, or else sets forth how things ought
to be done with regard to versification.
(6) There is a theme of ephemerality and awareness of
suffering running through Tosa Nikki. Give instances where
you see manifestations of such a theme. (It may be
revealed either in a personal way or else reflect the
sensibilities of the group).