Photo/Illutration The commentary of the “Kokin Wakashu” written by Fujiwara no Teika in the 13th century (Kenta Sujino)

A collection of handwritten observations by a towering 13th century “waka” poet has been rediscovered after lying in storage for over a century.

An expert likened the find to a “national treasure.”

What sent shivers through the world of academia is a three-volume commentary penned by Fujiwara no Teika (1162-1241) for the “Kokin Wakashu” (Collection of Waka, Old and New), the first compilation of waka poems at the behest of imperial edict in around 905.

Teika’s influence has resonated through the ages.

The Kyoto-based Reizei Family Shiguretei Bunko Foundation announced April 18 that the original “Kenchu Mitsukan,” the commentary penned by Teika, was found in a box.

Several ancient copies of the commentary exist, and they are designated as important cultural properties. But it was long believed the original was lost.

“It is the equivalent of a national treasure,” said Jun Kubota, professor emeritus of waka literature at the University of Tokyo.

Each of the bound volumes measures about 18 centimeters wide and 17 cm high.

Experts pronounced that the second and third volumes were unquestionably in Teika’s penmanship. Toward the end of the third volume, Teika included the year it was written, 1221.

The documents were examined by several experts, including college professors, who authenticated the works based on the handwriting, the signature attached, and the quality of the paper used.

The first volume is a copy created by the head of the Reizei family during the 14th century. The original is believed to have been lost in a fire.

Teika is a distant ancestor of the Reizei family who to this day live next to the Imperial Palace in Kyoto. For generations, the family has officiated at waka events held at the imperial court.

Traditionally, the head of the family learns about waka by reading the Kenchu Mitsukan. From the Edo Period (1603-1867), the commentary and related documents were placed in a wooden box and kept in a storehouse.

But for the past 130 years or so, the box remained unopened. In 1980, a research project got under way to examine the huge volume of documents kept at the Reizei residence. Work to locate the box and the missing commentary began in 2022.

Kubota said the commentary vividly shows how seriously Teika took the study of the “Kokin Wakashu.”

“It has a power that no copy can attain, which makes it extremely valuable,” he added.

The “Kokin Wakashu” not only influenced subsequent waka poets, but is also said to have influenced the writing of “The Tale of Genji,” widely considered to be the world’s first novel. It was written by Murasaki Shikibu, a Heian Period (794-1185) noblewoman.

Teika would himself lead the group that compiled the “Shin Kokin Wakashu” in the 13th century. It is considered one of the three greatest poetry anthologies, along with the eighth century “Manyoshu” (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves) and the “Kokin Wakashu.”

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