Japanese poetry

The most well-known forms of Japanese poetry (outside Japan) are haiku and senryu. The classic traditional form is in fact waka. Much poetry in Japan was written in the Chinese language, so it is more accurate to specify Japanese-language poetry. For example, in the Tale of Genji both kinds of poetry are frequently mentioned. The complex renga form gave rise to haiku.

Important collections are the Man'yōshu, Kokin-wakashu and Shin-kokin-wakashu.