Nij Yoshimoto was the most important court literatus of the violent and divisive era of the Northern and Southern Courts (Nanbokush, 1336-1392). Born into the highest stratum of the aristocracy, he served the Northern Court four times as regent, dominating court politics either personally or through his sons for most of the last four decades of his life. His political position was buttressed by extensive literary activity; he became adept at uta and Chinese poetry, wrote voluminously about court ceremonies and protocol, and may have composed the famous historical tale Masukagami (The Clear Mirror, circa 1376). His most important contributions to literary history, however, lay in the field of renga (linked verse). Yoshimoto composed the first extant renga treatises, compiled the first extant anthology, and codified the renga rules. Through his efforts linked verse began to gain recognition as a high courtly art.

It was Yoshimoto's heritage to rule...