also drew upon recently imported and translated T'ang dynasty Chinese poetry. From a literary criticism perspective, he notably was an early supporter of the Tale of Genji, and after his 30s and 40s, he was especially known for his criticism and judgments at various poetry gatherings and contests, where he favored poems that displayed his preferred poetic style of yugen (one of the ten orthodox styles of poetry which focused on conveying romantic emotion, with characteristic undertones of nostalgia and regret). His style was sometimes summarized as "old diction, new treatment". He wrote that poems "should somehow... produce an effect of both charm and of mystery and depth. If it is a good poem, it will possess a kind of atmosphere distinct from its words and their configuration and yet accompanying them." An example: His style was disciplined, determinedly sensitive and emotional. The poet Shinkei (1406–1475) wrote the following about his composition of poetry: "Very late at night he would sit by his bed in front of an oil lamp so dim it was difficult to tell whether it was burning or not, and with a tattered court robe thrown over his shoulders and an old court cap pulled down to his ears, he would lean on an armrest, hugging a wooden brazier for warmth, while he recited verse to himself in an undertone. Deep into the night, when everyone else was asleep, he would sit there bent over, weeping softly." Monk Shunzei took Buddhist vows in 1176 when he was 62. He adopted the dharma name of Shakuagaku (釈阿覚) or Shakua (釈阿). Most of his critical philosophy of poetry is known from his sole major work of criticism, written a decade (in 1197, and revised in 1201) after he was asked by the emperor to compile the anthology, Fūteishō ("Notes on Poetic Style through the Ages"). He died on December 22, 1204 at age 90. Children Shunzei's son, Fujiwara no Teika, succeeded him in prominence as a poet, and was more successful in court politics than his father. Teika is considered one of the four best poets in Japanese history. Shunzei's granddaughter, Fujiwara Toshinari no Musume (c. 1200; often simply called "Shunzei's Daughter"), whom he raised and taught, was also successful as a poet in the vein of Teika (who sought her advice after Shunzei died). See also Japanese poetry Japanese poetry anthologies References 1114 births 1204 deaths 12th-century