Fujiwara no Sanekata

Fujiwara no Sanekata (藤原実方; died 998) was a Japanese waka poet of the mid-Heian period. One of his poems was included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. He left a private waka collection, the Sanekata-shū.

Fujiwara no Sanekata, from the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.

Biography

Sanekata was a great-grandson of Fujiwara no Tadahira, "and commander of the bodyguard."^[1] He was raised by his uncle, Fujiwara no Naritoki (藤原済時).^[2]

He was reportedly a lover of Sei Shōnagon,^[1] and exchanged love poems with many women.^[2]

He was appointed governor of Mutsu Province, and he died while in service there.^[1][2]

He died in 998.^[2]

Poetry

Sixty-seven of his poems were included in imperial anthologies from the Shūi Wakashū on,^[1][2] and he was listed as one of the Late Classical Thirty-Six Immortals of Poetry.^[2]

The following poem by him was included as No. 51 in Fujiwara no Teika's Ogura Hyakunin Isshu:

Japanese text[3]	Romanized Japanese[4]	English translation[5]
かくとだに えやはいぶきの さしも草 さしも知らじな 燃ゆる思ひを	Kaku to dani e ya wa ibuki no sashimo-gusa sa shimo shiraji na moyuru omoi wo	Can I let you know what consumes me? Unknown to you, my heart blazes like red hot moxa aflame with love for you.

A private collection of his poetry, the Sanekata-shū (実方集), survives.^[1]