An early Heian courtier and poet, grandson of Emperor Heizei, counted among the Six Poetic Geniuses and Thirty-Six Immortals. Thirty of his poems appear in the Kokinshū, whose preface famously judged that his feeling exceeded his words. His passionate style and reputation as a lover made him the model for the nameless hero of The Tales of Ise, the classic collection of poem-tales. His Hyakunin Isshu poem on crimson leaves dyeing the Tatsuta River was composed for a painted screen.
ちはやぶる 神代も聞かず 竜田川
からくれなゐに 水くくるとは
Chihayaburu kamiyo mo kikazu Tatsutagawa / karakurenai ni mizu kukuru to wa
Not even in the age of the gods was such a thing heard of — the Tatsuta River scattering autumn leaves and tie-dyeing its waters a brilliant crimson.
雁鳴きて 菊の花咲く 秋はあれど
春の海辺に 住吉の浜
Geese cry and chrysanthemums bloom — autumn has its glory, / but give me the shore of Sumiyoshi, by the sea in spring.