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Love poems were commonly exchanged between men and women during the Heian period. At that time, love poems are considered to be one of the most common ways of courting beautiful women and handsome men. Authors would tend to prove themselves worthy of their “targets”. Getting impressed by poems written by the author would almost equal to falling in love with the author. Various literary devices are cleverly applied such as visual imagery and pivot words in love poems, namely poems 645, 646, 747, and 784 in the Kokinwashu and poems found in section 1 in the Tales of Ise. This essay will highlight common features of Heian love poetry, based on a comparative analysis of poems from the Kokinwakashu and the Tales of Ise.

Love poems are a way for poets to express their feelings to the person that love. In poem 747 of the Kokinwakashu, Arihira Narihira no Ason made love to a lady who lived in the western wing of a palace belonging to the Gojo Empress. Shortly after, the lady had moved away without telling him. Narihira managed to find out her whereabouts, but was impossible to communicate with her. In the spring of the following year, he reminisces the memories he had with the lady (McCullough, 165). He states that the “moon” and “springtime” are not “old”, but “Only this body of mine the same body as before…” (McCullough, 165). Although time is constantly changing, and his feelings for the lady has not changed ever since she had left his side. Love poems were channels that allows poet’s to express their feelings, ranging from sad and frustrated to joyfulness and excitement. Furthermore, phrases such as “springtime” gives a sense of depth to the poems. Poets apply extensive use of seasons in their works, providing its readers a better vi...

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...on. The feelings inside the poet’s heart was further emphasized by the first line of the poem. At the end of the section, McCullough states that “People were remarkably elegant in those days” (69) suggests courtly elegance, by which De Mente clarifies “refined in taste, urbane, graceful, and elegant” (192). Love poems strive to achieve courtly elegance, which is an aesthetic ideal that entails good taste, artful use of language and avoidance of things that are ugly.

Love poems are exceptionally amazing works of literature. Through these poems, we are able to achieve a greater cultural understanding of the Heian period. Indeed, we managed to also gain a deeper insight on the norms of society. Fortunately, these works were preserved until today, which allows for the admiration of modern readers around the world, as well as to let readers grasp a feeling of Heian life.