In Japan, two poetry anthologies, Man'yōshū and Kokinshū, are highly revered as literary embodiments of the Japanese spirit. While both are similar in their literary purposes, the intent behind the compilation of each anthology and the legacy each has left differs greatly. With its inclusion of poets of all classes and embodiment of makoto or sincerity, the Man'yōshū helped the Japanese form a national identity through its poetry. Kokinshū was able to build on this foundation and establish poetry as a high art form using miyabi, or refinement and elegance, helping Japan further establish its independent place in the literary world. The Man'yōshū or “A Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves”) is the first anthology composed entirely of what Japan considered its literature in its native language. It is composed of 4,516 waka poems spanning approximately 350 years, from the beginning of the 5th century to the year 759 AD (Citko H2.1). This is especially significant because of Japan's earlier reliance on Chinese styles of structure and imagery to create its own poetry. Chinese culture influenced most Japanese institutions because Japanese civilization itself had lagged behind in technology and modernization. The Japanese “early realized the high value placed in China on the composition of poetry… They wished to record their own literature” (Citko H2.2). The Man'yōshū was created to break with the practice of idealizing Chinese poetry and shift the focus to making Japanese poetry uniquely Japanese. The oral traditions and songs of the popular past were paired with poems created by the Japanese people, which included legends, folk tales, and poems written for the imperial family, as... middle of paper......s today and endeavored to compete with his former mentor, the Chinese, as a legitimate art form. These two anthologies together laid the foundation for centuries of waka to come. By establishing a national identity and standard for their poetry, Man'yōshū and Kokinshū ensured their longevity as two of the most significant literary pieces in Japanese history. Works Cited Citko, Meliorate (compiler). "Handout 2 - Man'yōshū." Japan Knowledge: Encyclopedia ofJapan, January 25, 2011. “Handout 4 – Kokin waka shu.” Japan Knowledge: Encyclopedia of Japan, January 19, 2011. "Collection of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poetry." Handout EALL271, January 19, 2011.Keene, Donald, ed. Anthology of Japanese literature. New York: Grove Press, 1955. “Manyoshu Criticism.” eNotes. 2011. January 16, 2011. “Manyoshu – Definition.” WordIQ. 2010. January 16. 2011.