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Destiny: A Collection of Japanese Tanka

Destiny: A Collection of Japanese Tanka

by [Ting, May Yen]
No customer reviews yet ISBN 9780985560928 Quadu Press

Destiny is a collection of Japanese tanka poetry written between 1971 and 1975. This English translation was made for the benefit of May Yen Ting's non-Japanese-speaking descendants and for those who are interested in bilingual tanka. May Yen Ting was born in Taiwan during the Japanese Occupation. She was educated in Japan and studied Japanese literature at Ochanomizu University. Upon graduation, she returned to Taiwan and taught in a Japanese high school. In her fifties, she wrote several textbooks for Taiwanese to learn Japanese language while teaching in universities.

At the end of World War II, her nationality changed from Japanese to Chinese. Many tanka in this collection were composed while the future of Taiwan was unpredictable, caused by an unsettled international situation. The agony and sorrow of the Taiwanese people can be felt through her words.

  • My feelings
    As I await judgement
    These days
    I read the news
    With bated breath

(Written while awaiting the UN decision to replace Taiwan, Republic of China, by the People's Republic of China in the Security Council in 1971.)

About the author

Product details

BrandQuadu Press
Pub dateSep 24, 2019
ISBN-100985560924
ISBN-139780985560928
LanguageJapanese
Dimensions9 × 0.67 × 6 in
Weight1 lb
Last updated 2026-03-25 10:49
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