Iio Sōgi, (orInō Sōgi[1]) generally known asSōgi (宗祇, 1421–1502), was aJapanesepoet. He came from a humble family from the province ofKii orŌmi, and died inHakone on September 1, 1502. Sōgi was aZen monk from theShōkoku-ji temple inKyoto and he studied poetry, bothwaka andrenga. In his 30s, he became a professional renga poet.
During his travels to almost every corner of Japan, he was welcomed by the most powerful political, military and literary figures of his day. He attracted more disciples than any other poet of his generation.[2] After traveling throughout Japan, he returned toKyoto, where he commanded great respect.
He is best-remembered for his renga, wherein two or more poets collaborate to create a poem, by writing alternate stanzas. In Sōgi's day, such renga were typically 100 verses in length. Arising from the court tradition of waka, renga was cultivated by the warrior class as well as by courtiers, and some of the best renga poets, such as Sōgi, were commoners.
Sōgi is considered the greatest master of renga, his two most famous works being "Three Poets at Minase" (Minase sangin hyakuin, 1488) and "Three Poets at Yuyama" (Yuyama sangin hyakuin, 1491).[3] This outstanding poet left more than 90 works (anthologies, diaries, poetic criticisms and manuals, among others). Before his death, he wrote "Sōgi Alone", which mostly includes his memoirs.
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