EN
In the interpretations of classical Japanese poetry there are explicit differences in approach between the early modern times and those previous. For there does exist a large discrepancy between the then, contemporary, and the now, modern values, a discrepancy that takes origin in different ways of thinking, different ideological stances. The effects of all those differences and divergences are often unclear and sometimes even misguided interpretations. The purpose of this article is to present some of the widely known and therefore undoubtedly accepted contemporary Japanese poetry theories and compare them with the explanations and interpretations originated in the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The main source of the analysis is the first imperial anthology of poetry, Kokinwakashū (Collection of Poems of Ancient and Modern Times, 905), and in particular the two poetry treaties – Kanajo (Introduction) written in Japanese and Manajo (Introduction) writen in Chinese.