A Study of ancient Japanese literature waka’s dramatic feature

This study aims to give a close attention to analyze theatrical components in ancient Wakas. Manyoshu plays a central role as a primary source and other contemporary sources such as Kojiki, Nihonshoki and Hudoki supports the main thesis. The study to find out theatrical components from the ancient Waka would be beneficial study to discover cultural heritage of the era through its practical aspects. Despite this advantage, many precedent researches did not consider Waka's theatrical features as an independent research area. Instead, only possibility of the study is considered in process of commentary study.BR Through the entire survey, the ancient Waka's theatrical components can be summarized in following distinctions in its descriptive aspect:BR 1) Transition of person in one piece of WakaBR 2) Repeat of phrase or paragraph, andBR 3) Waka description pausing the scene. In its formational aspect, there are monodrama format and multi-character format.BR In this study, Waka in monodrama format meeting above three descriptive distinctions is mainly surveyed. "Hokaimono's song" was the most representative monodrama with the three descriptive distinctions. "Taketorino okina's song" from volume 16 also shows the three descriptive characteristics with multiple characters.