CHOKA

(1)

INTRODUCTION

Five and seven seem to be the popular choices in Japanese poetry. We have seen these two numbers appear in all the poems already mentioned. Today, we will take a look at one more Japanese poetry form, also of a similar structure; it is called choka. 

CHOKA - THE FIVE AND SEVEN GAME

Let it be known that the Japanese do know how to write long poems, too. Putting joking aside, choka is a Japanese poetry form. It is the long form of waka and dates back to the 1st century. In the odd-numbered lines, there are 5 morae; in the even-numbered lines, there are 7. This scheme repeats at least two times, and then the poem ends with a 5-7-7 syllable ending. In conclusion, a choka can be of a variable length, with the briefest documented being the Man'yōshū no. 802, which is of a 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-7-7 pattern, and the longest being indefinite. They may be followed by one or more envoys (hanka). (2, 3)

The most common structure is a series of couplets, with each pair of lines forming a complete thought. They often incorporated wordplay, alliteration, and other poetic devices to enhance their beauty and meaning. (4) 

FROM NATURE TO HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Chokas explored different themes, from:

• Nature and Seasonality

• Love and Longing

• Personal Experiences and Emotions

• Historical and Communal Narratives

• Melancholy and Transience (Ukimi). (4)

WHY ARE CHOKAS IMPORTANT?

Chokas hold significant historical value, being one of the oldest poetic forms. It allows for connection with the literary traditions and cultural heritage of ancient Japan. It also serves as a cultural expression, reflecting the values, aesthetics, and sensibilities of Japanese culture. And last but not least, its challenging structure tests the limits of a poet’s creativity. 

HERE I GIVE THIS TEST A GO

(5)

CONCLUSION

Choka is a Japanese poetry form. It is the long form of the waka poem. In the odd-numbered lines, there are 5 morae; in the even-numbered lines, there are 7. This scheme repeats at least two times, and then the poem ends with a 5-7-7 syllable ending. It explores a wide variety of themes, at the forefront, nature and seasonality, love and longing, and personal experiences and emotions. 

SOURCES

1. Image was created via canva.com

2. Wikipedia. Waka (poetry). Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waka_(poetry)#Ch%C5%8Dka

3. Brittanica. Choka. Available at https://www.britannica.com/art/choka 

4. Poem Analysis. Choka. Available at https://poemanalysis.com/poetic-form/choka/ 

5. Image was created via canva.com