'Tosa Diary' Summary

The Tosa Diary is an extended diary entry written by the Japanese poet Ki no Tsurayuki in 935 CE. It recounts his journey back to the capital Kyoto from his post as governor of Tosa Province on the island of Shikoku. Along the way, Ki no Tsurayuki and his entourage travel by boat, on horseback, and on foot, encountering a variety of hardships and adventures. Ki no Tsurayuki provides detailed descriptions of the landscapes he encounters and the people he meets along the way, as well as his own thoughts and feelings about his experiences. The Tosa Diary is considered a masterpiece of Japanese literature and is one of the most important examples of the Heian period (794-1185 CE). The work is written in a mix of prose and poetry and contains over 100 poems. It provides a unique insight into the life and times of a Japanese aristocrat during the Heian period.