Man'yōshūThe poetic anthology Man'yōshū, compiled in ca. 759, is well known as an extraordinary masterpiece of the Nara period, following the two chronicles: Kojiki (712) and Nihon Shoki, or Nihongi, (720). As the title describes, Man'yōshū (collection of ten thousand leaves) is an anthology of almost 4,500 poems by writers of various backgrounds and different periods, in which I consider this anthology significant. The composers include prominent poets such as Kakinomoto Hiromaro, Ōtomo Yakamochi, and Yamanoue Okura, as well as nobles, soldiers, and peasants, suggesting that the volumes teach us different aspects of those eras, or perspectives not only of educated or wealthy people but those of ordinary citizens . Perhaps the fact that no specific writing style, whether choka or tanka, had yet been regulated, allowed for the enormous collection of a variety of composers. Another point regarding the content of Man'yōshū that somehow struck me is that men did not hesitate to express their emotional sides and weaknesses, as seen in the pieces by Kakimonoto Hitomaro and Ōtomo Yakamochi: “…I considered myself a man strong. But the sleeves of my dress are wet with tears” (Kakinomoto Hitomaro) “…then I think of my distant home – I grieve it bitterly with my sobs” (Ōtomo Yakamochi) Consequently I assume that there may have been connections between the pre- -Confucian and gender roles in society; that is, perhaps, the concept that “Boys don't cry” was yet to arrive at a later point 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 his use of makurakotoba was extensive, using over 140 makurakotoba, half of which are presumed...half of the paper...but largely placed in modern Japan. In conclusion, two of the best-known Japanese literary works, Man'yōshū and Kokinshū, have had a great impact on later periods of Japan, not only in the world of literature but also in many other aspects of culture and society: styles and devices poetics, writing systems, search for intelligence, reflection on one's identity, appreciation for humanity, nature and other possible connections in life, etc. Works Cited Hatano, Fumio. (2004). Japanese history: 11 experts reflect on the past. Tokyo: Kodansha.Gyaru Moji Henkan. http://www.glne.jp/tbl1.cgi Retrieved 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.