Hyakunin Isshu No.62 of Yoga Promenade
The poet is Sei-Shonagon. Her father is Kiyohara-no Motosuke, the poet No.42. The first part of her name “Sei” means she came from Kiyohara family. Shonangon is a position in the Imperial Court. It seems that somebody close to her was at the position, but it is uncertain who was Shonagon. Her real name is unknown. She is well-known as the author of “Makura-no-soshi (the Pillow Book).” The work is such a classic that it always appears in textbooks of classical Japanese. Unlike female poets mentioned until No.61, she was a lady-in-waiting who served Fujiwara-no Teishi.
The story of how this poem was created is described in “Makura-no-Soshi.” It was composed during an exchange of letters with Fujiwara-no Yukinari, who is a son of Fujiwara-no Yoshitaka, the poet No.50. Yukinari did not make many poems. Instead, he is well known as a talented calligrapher. Yukinari and Sei-Shonagon were not lovers, but they were close friends. The story began from a night when Yukinari talked with Sei-Shonagon until late. After he returned home, he wrote to Sei-Shonagon saying, “I returned home because I heard a rooster.” She replied that “It was too early to hear a rooster. You heard a rooster of Lord Mengchang of old China (there is a story that he made the gate of Hangu Pass open by imitating the crow of a rooster).” He said “No, no. It is not Hangu Pass but the Osaka Barrier.” At that time, “the Osaka Barrier” was often used to mean lovers meeting. Her reply was the poem. It says “Even if you imitate the crow of rooster, the gate at the Osaka Barrier will never open.” Yukinari returned a poem saying “Ah, I have heard that the Osaka Barrier is always open.” Sei-Shonagon didn't write a reply because she couldn't think of a good way to get back. She later told him, “I won't make that terrible poem public for your sake.'' Anyway, his terrible poem became public because she wrote the episode in “Makura-no-Soshi.”
Hyakunin Isshu No.62 of Yoga Promenade
The poet is Sei-Shonagon. Her father is Kiyohara-no Motosuke, the poet No.42. The first part of her name “Sei” means she came from Kiyohara family. Shonangon is a position in the Imperial Court. It seems that somebody close to her was at the position, but it is uncertain who was Shonagon. Her real name is unknown. She is well-known as the author of “Makura-no-soshi (the Pillow Book).” The work is such a classic that it always appears in textbooks of classical Japanese. Unlike female poets mentioned until No.61, she was a lady-in-waiting who served Fujiwara-no Teishi.
The story of how this poem was created is described in “Makura-no-Soshi.” It was composed during an exchange of letters with Fujiwara-no Yukinari, who is a son of Fujiwara-no Yoshitaka, the poet No.50. Yukinari did not make many poems. Instead, he is well known as a talented calligrapher. Yukinari and Sei-Shonagon were not lovers, but they were close friends. The story began from a night when Yukinari talked with Sei-Shonagon until late. After he returned home, he wrote to Sei-Shonagon saying, “I returned home because I heard a rooster.” She replied that “It was too early to hear a rooster. You heard a rooster of Lord Mengchang of old China (there is a story that he made the gate of Hangu Pass open by imitating the crow of a rooster).” He said “No, no. It is not Hangu Pass but the Osaka Barrier.” At that time, “the Osaka Barrier” was often used to mean lovers meeting. Her reply was the poem. It says “Even if you imitate the crow of rooster, the gate at the Osaka Barrier will never open.” Yukinari returned a poem saying “Ah, I have heard that the Osaka Barrier is always open.” Sei-Shonagon didn't write a reply because she couldn't think of a good way to get back. She later told him, “I won't make that terrible poem public for your sake.'' Anyway, his terrible poem became public because she wrote the episode in “Makura-no-Soshi.”