Waka-Tanka

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Definition

A traditional form of Japanese collaborative poetry, where one poet writes a three-line stanza and another poet completes it with two lines.

Example

In the Manyoshu, some poems are examples of waka-tanka, a collaborative form of waka poetry.

Study Tips

  • Try to identify this device in poems you read
  • Practice using this technique in your own writing
  • Look for variations and related terms
  • Discuss examples with classmates or teachers

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