Izumi Shikibu
Encyclopedia
was a mid Heian period
Japanese
poet. She is a member of the . She was the contemporary of Murasaki Shikibu
, and Akazome Emon
at the court of Joto Mon'in.
. Her mother was the daughter of Taira no Yasuhira, governor of Etchu
. At the age of 20 Izumi was married to Tachibana no Michisada, who soon became governor of Izumi
. As is standard for Heian period
women, her name is a composite of "Izumi" from her husband's and her father's official designation of . Izumi Shikibu accompanied Michisada to the provinces for a time, but found life there disagreeable and returned to the capital. Their daughter Koshikibu no Naishi was also a poet.
. In the beginning, before her marriage to Michisada, she is believed to have been the companion (some accounts say wife) of a man named Omotomaru at dowager
Queen Shoko's court. While still married to Michisada, she fell in love with Emperor Reizei
's third son, Prince Tametaka (977–1002) and had a public affair. As a result of the scandal her husband divorced her and her father disinherited her. One legend accounts that Tametake died soon after visited her during a plague
outbreak in Kyoto.
After Tametaka's death, she was courted by Prince Atsumichi (981–1007), Tametaka's half-brother, born to another mother. The first year of this affair is described in her semi-autobiographical diary . As is customary for a of the period, Izumi wrote in the third person her Izumi Shikibu Nikki and sections may have been fictionalized. It is believed that Shikibu's motive in writing the diary was partly to explain her affair to her fellow courtiers. When her affair with Atsumichi became public, his wife left him in anger. Izumi then moved into Atsumichi's residence, and the two had a very public courtship until Atsumichi's death in 1007 at the age of 27.
The following year, Izumi Shikibu joined the court of Fujiwara no Shōshi, who was the daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga
, as well as a chūgū consort of Emperor Ichijō
.
, even though both served in the same court and were close friends. At the court she also nursed a growing rivalry with Murasaki Shikibu
, who had a similar poetic style, though this rivalry pales in comparison with Murasaki Shikibu's spirited competition with Sei Shōnagon
. Izumi Shikibu's emotional poetry won her the praise of many at the court, including Fujiwara no Kinto
.
. She is said to have lived long, outliving her daughter Koshikibu no Naishi, but the year of her death is unknown. The last Imperial correspondence from her was in 1033.
jointly commissioned an opera based on her poems. Titled “Da Gelo a Gelo” by Salvatore Sciarrino
and sung in Italian, the work draws on 65 poems from Izumi Shikibu Nikki that features her passion for Prince Atsumichi. It was performed in early 2008 by the Grand Theater of Geneva with the Chamber Orchestra of Geneva.
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
poet. She is a member of the . She was the contemporary of Murasaki Shikibu
Murasaki Shikibu
Murasaki Shikibu was a Japanese novelist, poet and lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court during the Heian period. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, written in Japanese between about 1000 and 1012...
, and Akazome Emon
Akazome Emon
was a Japanese waka poet who lived in the mid-Heian period. She is a member both of the and the .-Biography:Emon is though to be the daughter of Akazome Tokimochi, but her biological father was likely her mother's first husband, Taira Kanemori. Emon was born before her mother's marriage to...
at the court of Joto Mon'in.
Early life
Izumi Shikibu was the daughter of Oe no Masamune, governor of EchizenEchizen Province
was an old province of Japan, which is today the northern part of Fukui Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Etchū and Echigo Provinces.Echizen is famous for washi . A text dated AD 774 mentions the washi made in this area. Echizen-produced Washi is still the most commonly sold traditional...
. Her mother was the daughter of Taira no Yasuhira, governor of Etchu
Etchu Province
was an old province in central Honshū, on the Sea of Japan side. It was sometimes called , with Echizen and Echigo Provinces. It bordered Echigo, Shinano, Hida, Kaga, and Noto provinces...
. At the age of 20 Izumi was married to Tachibana no Michisada, who soon became governor of Izumi
Izumi Province
was a province of Japan. It is also referred to as . It lay in Kinai, and its area today composes the south-western part of Osaka Prefecture . The Ōshōji in Sakai was the border with Settsu Province, until the beginning of the Meiji period, when the boundary was changed to be at the Yamato River...
. As is standard for Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
women, her name is a composite of "Izumi" from her husband's and her father's official designation of . Izumi Shikibu accompanied Michisada to the provinces for a time, but found life there disagreeable and returned to the capital. Their daughter Koshikibu no Naishi was also a poet.
Affairs, marriages
Izumi Shikibu had a sequence of affairs at the Imperial court in KyotoKyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. In the beginning, before her marriage to Michisada, she is believed to have been the companion (some accounts say wife) of a man named Omotomaru at dowager
Dowager
A dowager is a widow who holds a title or property, or dower, derived from her deceased husband. As an adjective, "Dowager" usually appears in association with monarchical and aristocratic titles....
Queen Shoko's court. While still married to Michisada, she fell in love with Emperor Reizei
Emperor Reizei
was the 63rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Reizei's reign spanned the years from 967 through 969.-Traditional narrative:...
's third son, Prince Tametaka (977–1002) and had a public affair. As a result of the scandal her husband divorced her and her father disinherited her. One legend accounts that Tametake died soon after visited her during a plague
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
outbreak in Kyoto.
After Tametaka's death, she was courted by Prince Atsumichi (981–1007), Tametaka's half-brother, born to another mother. The first year of this affair is described in her semi-autobiographical diary . As is customary for a of the period, Izumi wrote in the third person her Izumi Shikibu Nikki and sections may have been fictionalized. It is believed that Shikibu's motive in writing the diary was partly to explain her affair to her fellow courtiers. When her affair with Atsumichi became public, his wife left him in anger. Izumi then moved into Atsumichi's residence, and the two had a very public courtship until Atsumichi's death in 1007 at the age of 27.
The following year, Izumi Shikibu joined the court of Fujiwara no Shōshi, who was the daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga
Fujiwara no Michinaga
represents the highpoint of the Fujiwara regents' control over the government of Japan.-Early life:He was the fourth or fifth son of Fujiwara no Kaneie by his wife Tokihime, daughter of Fujiwara no Nakamasa...
, as well as a chūgū consort of Emperor Ichijō
Emperor Ichijo
was the 66th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 986 to 1011.-Traditional narrative:Before he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Kanehito-shinnō....
.
Diary
Izumi Shikibu Nikki was actually written around this time, along with most of her important work that is present in the and the Imperial anthologies. Her life of love and passion earned her the nickname of from Michinaga. Indeed, her poetry is characterised by overflowing passion and overwhelming sentimental appeal. Her style was the direct opposite of that of Akazome EmonAkazome Emon
was a Japanese waka poet who lived in the mid-Heian period. She is a member both of the and the .-Biography:Emon is though to be the daughter of Akazome Tokimochi, but her biological father was likely her mother's first husband, Taira Kanemori. Emon was born before her mother's marriage to...
, even though both served in the same court and were close friends. At the court she also nursed a growing rivalry with Murasaki Shikibu
Murasaki Shikibu
Murasaki Shikibu was a Japanese novelist, poet and lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court during the Heian period. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, written in Japanese between about 1000 and 1012...
, who had a similar poetic style, though this rivalry pales in comparison with Murasaki Shikibu's spirited competition with Sei Shōnagon
Sei Shonagon
Sei Shōnagon , was a Japanese author and a court lady who served the Empress Teishi around the year 1000 during the middle Heian period. She is best known as the author of The Pillow Book .-Name:...
. Izumi Shikibu's emotional poetry won her the praise of many at the court, including Fujiwara no Kinto
Fujiwara no Kinto
, also known as Shijō-dainagon, was a Japanese poet, admired by his contemporaries and a court bureaucrat of the Heian period. His father was the regent Fujiwara no Yoritada and his son Fujiwara no Sadayori...
.
Later years
While at the court, she married Fujiwara no Yasumasa, a military commander under Michinaga famous for his bravery, and left the court to accompany him to his charge in Tango ProvinceTango Province
was an old province in the area that is today northern Kyoto Prefecture facing the Sea of Japan. It was sometimes called , with Tamba Province. Tango bordered on Tajima, Tamba, and Wakasa provinces....
. She is said to have lived long, outliving her daughter Koshikibu no Naishi, but the year of her death is unknown. The last Imperial correspondence from her was in 1033.
Opera
In contemporary arts, the National Opera of Paris and the Grand Theater of GenevaGeneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
jointly commissioned an opera based on her poems. Titled “Da Gelo a Gelo” by Salvatore Sciarrino
Salvatore Sciarrino
Salvatore Sciarrino is an Italian composer of contemporary classical music.-Biography:In his youth, Sciarrino was attracted to the visual arts, but began experimenting with music when he was twelve. Though he had some lessons from Antonino Titone and Turi Belfiore, he is primarily self-taught as a...
and sung in Italian, the work draws on 65 poems from Izumi Shikibu Nikki that features her passion for Prince Atsumichi. It was performed in early 2008 by the Grand Theater of Geneva with the Chamber Orchestra of Geneva.
Poetry examples
Shikibu's love poems are full of startling imagery.
(Heian noblewoman had very long hair.)
A large number of Shikibu's poems are . A few examples, first to Tametaka:
Upon seeing her daughter Koshikibu no Naishi's name on her Imperial robes she received after her death:
External links
- The Diary of Izumi Shikibu, by Izumi Shikibu (974- ) Publication: Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan. translated by Annie Shepley Omori and Kochi Doi, with an introduction by Amy Lowell. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1920, pp. 147–196.http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/omori/court/izumi.html#149-1