Editing Emperor Tenji (section)

===Poetry===
The ''[[Man'yōshū]]'' includes poems attributed to emperors and empresses; and according to [[Donald Keene]], evolving ''Man'yōshū'' studies have affected the interpretation of even simple narratives like "The Three Hills." The poem was long considered to be about two male hills in a quarrel over a female hill, but scholars now consider that Kagu and Miminashi might be female hills in love with the same male hill, Unebi.<ref>Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkokai. (1969). ''The Manyōshū,'' p. iv.</ref> This still-unresolved enigma in poetic form is said to have been composed by Emperor Tenji while he was still Crown Prince during the reign of Empress Saimei:

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<poem style="margin-left: 1.6em;" lang="ja">
香具山は
畝傍ををしと
耳成と
相争ひき
神代より
かくにあるらし
いにしへも
しかにあれこそ
うつせみも
妻を
争ふらしき
</poem>
|
<poem style="margin-left: 1.6em;">''Kaguyama wa''
''Unebi o oshi to''
''Miminashi to''
''Aiarasoiki''
''Kamuyo yori''
''Kaku ni arurashi''
''Inishie mo''
''Shika ni are koso''
''Utsusemi mo''
''Tsuma o''
''Arasourashiki''
</poem>
|
<poem style="margin-left: 1.6em;">
Mount Kagu strove with
: Mount Miminashi
For the love of
: Mount Unebi.
Such is love
: since [[The Age of the Gods|the age of the gods]];
As it was thus
: in the early days,
So people
: strive for spouses
:: even now.<ref>Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkokai,  p. 5.</ref>
</poem>
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One of his poems was chosen by [[Fujiwara no Teika]] as the first in the popular ''[[Ogura Hyakunin Isshu|Hyakunin Isshu]]'' anthology:

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<poem style="margin-left: 1.6em;" lang="ja">
秋の田の
かりほの庵の
苫をあらみ
わが衣手は
露にぬれつつ 
</poem>
|
<poem style="margin-left: 1.6em;">'' Aki no ta no''
''Kariho no io no''
''Toma o arami''
''Waga koromode wa''
''Tsuyu ni nuretsutsu''
</poem>
|
<poem style="margin-left: 1.6em;">
Because of the coarseness of the rush-mat
Of the temporary-hut
Where the rice of autumn harvest is
As far as my sleeve is concerned
They are becoming wet with dew (or tears).<ref name="m3">MacCauley, Clay. (1900). "''Hyakunin-Isshu'': Single Songs of a Hundred Poets" in ''Transactions of the Asia Society of Japan,'' p. 3.</ref>
</poem>
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After his death, his wife, [[Empress Yamato]] wrote a song of longing about her husband.<ref>Sato 2008, p. 21.</ref>