Man'yōshūThe Man'yōshū poetic anthology, compiled in ca. 759, is well known as an outstanding masterpiece of the Nara period, following the two chronicles: Kojiki (712) and Nihon Shoki, or Nihongi, (720). As its title indicates, Man'yōshū (collection of ten thousand sheets) is an anthology of nearly 4,500 poems written by writers from diverse backgrounds and different periods, in which I consider this anthology significant. The composers include such prominent poets as Kakinomoto Hiromaro, Ōtomo Yakamochi, and Yamanoue Okura, as well as nobles, soldiers, and peasants, suggesting that the volumes teach us different aspects of these eras, or perspectives not only of the educated or the rich, but also those of the commoners. Perhaps no specific style of writing, neither choka nor tanka, was yet regulated, allowing for the enormous collection of a variety of composers. Another point about the content of Man'yōshū that struck me in one way or another is that men did not shy away from expressing their emotional parts and weakness, as Kakimonoto Hitomaro's plays show and Ōtomo Yakamochi: “…I thought I was a strong man. But the sleeves of my garment are wet with tears” (Kakinomoto Hitomaro) “…so I think of my distant home – I mourn it terribly with my sobs” (Ōtomo Yakamochi) Therefore, I suppose there could have been the connections between pre-Confucian times and gender roles in society; perhaps it was the concept that "boys don't cry" had not yet appeared later in Japanese history. Speaking of Kakinomoto Hitomaro, he is known for his good use of poetic devices such as makurakotoba, joshi and on'in; in particular, its use of makurakotoba was extensive, using over 140 makurakotoba, half of which are presumed... middle of paper ... but introduced to a large extent in modern Japan. In conclusion, two of the well-known Japanese literary works, Man'yōshū and Kokinshū, have had great impacts on later periods of Japan, not only in the literary world but also in many other aspects of culture and society : poetic styles and devices, writing systems, search for intelligence, reflection on one's identity, appreciation of humanity, nature and other possible connections in life, etc. Works Cited Hatano, Fumio. (2004). History of Japan: 11 experts reflect on the past. Tokyo: Kodansha.Gyaru Moji Henkan. http://www.glne.jp/tbl1.cgi Accessed May 30, 2010. Wikipedia. Kakekotoba. http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%8E%9B%E8%A9%9E retrieved May 30, 2010. Wikipedia. Kakinomoto Hitomaro. http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9F%BF%E6%9C%AC%E4%BA%BA%E9%BA%BB%E5%91%82 Retrieved May 30, 2010.