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Ki no Tsurayuki

Ki no Tsurayuki was a Japanese waka poet of the Heian period. In 905, he was one of the
poets ordered to compile the Kokinshu - Collected Japanese Poems ot Ancient ana
Modern Times He is also one of the Thirty-six Poetry Immortals of Japan.

The Tosa Diary, written in 935, is considered the major work of Tsurayuki. It is an
account of his return to the capital Kyoto from Tosa province, where he had served as
governor since 930. The journey is by boat, and Tsurayuki tells about his sea sickness
and fear of pirates, his impressions of the coast, and the various offerings to placate the
gods of the sea. The Tosa Diary is written entirely in kana (the "women's" alphabet) and
contains many poems composed by Tsurayuki during the journey.

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Cover image: image of Ki no Tsurayuki from a 1 0 th century scroll.
Cover designed by Availle. This design is in the public domain.