kanshi

Kanshi (漢詩) refers to Chinese-style poetry composed by Japanese poets in classical Chinese. It developed within Japan’s educated and courtly circles from the 7th century onward, reaching prominence in the Nara and Heian periods. Kanshi poets studied Chinese models from the Tang and Song eras and often composed in the same formal modes used in China, though they frequently adapted forms to Japanese tastes and conventions.

The practice typically involved writing in Chinese diction with the aid of kanbun, a method that allowed readers to render Chinese sentences in Japanese word order. Common topics included official duties, political affairs, friendship, natural scenery, and philosophical reflection, and poets often employed the parallelism and regulated patterns characteristic of Chinese poetry. Kanshi served as a bridge between Chinese literary culture and native Japanese poetry, complementing waka and later influencing Chinese studies within Japan.

Throughout medieval and early modern Japan, kanshi circulated in courtly and scholarly settings, preserved in anthologies, private collections, and scholarly correspondences. It contributed to the broader cultivation of Chinese literature in Japan and helped transmit classical Chinese culture to Japanese readers and writers. In modern scholarship, kanshi is viewed as a significant site of cross-cultural exchange, illustrating how Japanese poets engaged with Chinese literary traditions while shaping their own literary world.