The Ryōunshū (凌雲集) was the first imperially commissioned Japanese kanshi collection. It was compiled by Ono no Minemori, Sugawara no Kiyotomo and others under the command of Emperor Saga. The text was completed in 814.
The title, Ryōunshū, is an allusion to poetry so great that it soars higher than the clouds. The preface also gives the title as Ryōun Shinshū (凌雲新集), describing it as a "new collection".
The text begins with a preface outlining the background for and editorial principles surrounding the subject matter. The main text contains 91 poems contributed by 24 authors composed in kanshi style. The poems were ordered by author.
The Kokin Wakashū, commonly abbreviated as Kokinshū (古今集), is an early anthology of the waka form of Japanese poetry, dating from the Heian period. It is an Imperial anthology, conceived by Emperor Uda and published by order of his son Emperor Daigo, in about 905. Its finished form dates to c. 920, though according to several historical accounts the last poem was added to the collection in 914. The compilers of the anthology were four court poets, led by Ki no Tsurayuki and also including Ki no Tomonori, Ōshikōchi no Mitsune, and Mibu no Tadamine.
Oritaku Shiba no Ki is an autobiographical text written by Japanese Edo-period scholar-official Arai Hakuseki (1657–1725). It describes Arai's ancestors, his childhood, and his work as an official of the Tokugawa government, providing an invaluable perspective on the Tokugawa government of his day.
The Shasekishū (沙石集), also read as Sasekishū , translated into English as Sand and Pebbles, is a five-volume collection of Buddhist parables written by the Japanese monk Mujū in 1283 during the Kamakura period.
Honchō Monzui (本朝文粋) is Japanese book of Chinese prose and poetry. It was compiled around the middle of the 11th century during the Heian period by Fujiwara no Akihira.
The Fusōshū (扶桑集) was a mid-Heian period Japanese text of kanshi. It was compiled by Ki no Tadana between 995 and 999, just shortly before the start of the 11th century.
The Teiki (帝紀) is a historical text purported to have been compiled in 681. The text is no longer extant.
The Sangyōsho is the title of three annotated commentaries on important Buddhist sutras: Hokke Gisho (法華義疏), Shōmangyō Gisho (勝鬘経義疏), and Yuimagyō Gisho (維摩経義疏).
Renri Hishō is a text on renga poetics. It was written by Nijō Yoshimoto around 1349. It had a great influence on the development of renga.
Takahashi Ujibumi (高橋氏文) is a historical clan record of the Takahashi clan. It served as an appeal for court arbitration between two fighting clans.
Kazashi no Himegimi (かざしの姫君), also known as Kazashi no Hime (かざしの姫), is a Japanese Muromachi period story. It is one volume in length, and the text is accompanied by illustrations. The author is unknown.
Tsutsumi Chūnagon Monogatari is a post late-Heian period Japanese collection of short stories.
Nihon Ryōiki (日本霊異記) is an early Heian period setsuwa collection. Written by Kyōkai between 787 and 824, it is Japan's oldest collection of Buddhist setsuwa. It is three volumes in length.
Bunka Shūreishū (文華秀麗集) is the second imperially commissioned Japanese kanshi collection. The text was compiled by Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu, Sugawara no Kiyotomo, Nakao Ō, Isayama no Fumitugu, Shigeno no Sadanushi, and Kuwahara no Haraaka under the command of Emperor Saga. The text was completed c. 818, four years after the previous imperial collection, Ryōunshū.
The Keikokushū (経国集) was the third imperially commissioned anthology of kanshi. The text was compiled by Yoshimine no Yasuyo, Minabuchi no Hirosada, Sugawara no Kiyotomo, Yasuno no Fumitugu, Shigeno no Sadanushi, and Abe no Yoshihito under the command of Emperor Junna. The text was completed in 827, 13 years after the previous imperial collection, Bunka Shūreishū.
The Takamura Monogatari, also called the Takamura Nikki or the Ono no Takamura shū, is a Japanese uta monogatari that was written any time between the mid-Heian period to the early-Kamakura period. It is in one volume and consists of two distinct sections. The first section describes a young Ono no Takamura's tragic love affair with his half-sister. The second section is taken to be by a different author, and is dated somewhat later than the first. Both authors are unknown, and the poems attributed in the tale to Takamura are treated as dubious at best.
Nihon Montoku Tennō Jitsuroku, abbreviated as Montoku Jitsuroku, is an officially commissioned Japanese history text. Completed in 879, it is the fifth text in the Six National Histories series. It covers the years 850-858, the years of reign of the 55th Japanese sovereign, Emperor Montoku (827-858).
Utsubo Monogatari is a late 10th century Japanese story. It is Japan's oldest full-length narrative.
Yoru no Nezame is a c. 11th century Japanese story. It is one of the major representative Heian period texts. It is a courtly romance and belongs to the tsukuri monogatari genre.
Mumyōzōshi is an early 13th-century Japanese text. One volume in length, it is the oldest existing Japanese text on prose literary criticism. The author is unknown, but the leading candidate proposed is Shunzei's Daughter. Other candidates who have been proposed include her maternal grandfather Shunzei himself and the monk Jōgaku (上覚).
Fūyō Wakashū (風葉和歌集) is a late 13th century collection of poetry from Japanese literature.