Page:A History of Japanese Literature (Aston).djvu/306

290 verses of his which I have met with have mostly a comic character. Here is one:—

A halo is called in Japanese kasa, which also means a broad hat or umbrella.

Another early Haikai writer was Arakida Moritake (1472–1549). The following is from his pen:—   Coming down to the Yedo period, the first name of note in this department of literature is that of Matsunaga Teitoku (1562–1645). A well-known Haikai of his is the following:—

In other words: The autumn moon is so beautiful that people sit up half the night to gaze on it, and have therefore to make up for their want of sleep by a siesta on the following day.

If it were not, however, for the fame of (1643–1694) and his disciples, it would hardly be necessary to notice this kind of composition at all. He imported a more serious element, and greatly refined and improved the Haikai, until it became a formidable rival to the Tanka. The latter had in these days become too exclusive for the popular taste. The Fujiwara family, who were its special patrons, practisers, and critics,