Dōka
A dōka is an ethical Japanese waka with a lesson. Well-versed poems of dōka contain the central dogma, appealing to Japanese people and easy to memorize.
Popularity in Japanese culture
There is a wide range of dōka and its contents are said to cover not only lessons but also worldly wisdom. The writers of dōka are recorded to be many, but some of them composed originally tanka and their tanka was interpreted by others as dōka.Writers
, Ikkyū, Arakida Moritake, Itō Jinsai, Musō Soseki, Shimazu Tadayoshi, Ōta Nanpo, Matsudaira Sadanobu, Tokugawa Mitsukuni, Yoshida Shōin, Chikamatsu Monzaemon, Takuan, Takizawa Bakin, Hirata Atsutane, Ōta Dōkan, Saigyō Hōshi, Kyokutei Bakin, Yamaoka Tesshū, Watanabe Kazan, Yamanoue no Okura, Fujiwara no Teika, Sen no Rikyū, Sakamoto Ryōma, Nakae Tōju, Rennyo, Minamoto no Sanetomo, Chikamatsu Monzaemon, Takuan Sōhō, Sugawara no Michizane, Nichiren, Hon'inbō Sansa Motoori Norinaga and many others.History
- Anrakuan Sakuden was an Edo period Japanese priest of the Jōdo-shū of Buddhism; and a poet. He wrote a book Seisuisho, which is a collection of humorous anecdotes. In volume 3 of this book, the word Douka was first used. However, the Japanese have liked composing Tankas with lessons from time immemorial. Later, Ishida Baigan started Shingaku and used Dōka in his religious movement. Dōka is remembered in everyday life of Japanese.
Coverage
- Morality; small kindness, honesty, robbery, faithless love, friendship, flattery, etc.
- Art of Living; Travel, Health, etc.
- Wisdom; Wisdom in living, etc.
- How to live;Lies, etc.
- Progress of People;
- Money and Fortune;
- Parents and Children, Siblings, Couples;
- Life;
- Heart and Religion;
- Others;
Examples
Rōmaji:
Translation: