Soul of Japanese Aesthetics

Waka (和歌, “Japanese poem”) is a type of poetry in classical Japanese literature.

In Japan, there are many types of poetry that date back centuries.
One of the types of poetry in the history of Japan is called waka poetry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waka_(poetry)

三十六歌仙 Thirty-Six Immortals of Poetry
The worship of master poets was popular throughout the Heian period (794-1185).

Completion of “Selected Poems by Thirty-six Master Poets” a listing of famous and influential poets created by Fujiwara no Kinto (966-1041), led to various versions of paintings of The Thirty-six Immortal Poets.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty-Six_Immortals_of_Poetry

Aristocratic men and women of Japan’s Heian period (794-1185) were required to compose impromptu verse for all occasions.

舟橋蒔絵硯箱

Writing Box with Pontoon Bridge Design in Maki-e Lacquer by Hon’ami Koetsu
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hon%27ami_Kōetsu

This writing Box is a National Treasure housed at the Tokyo National Museum.
The work is base on the poem from the Gosen Wakashu
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gosen_Wakashū

A similar screen depicting the 36 poets is in the collection of the Saiku Historical Museum in Mie Prefecture and another at the Tokyo National Museum.
Each poet is dressed in the refined style of the Heian court.

In the history of Japan, the works of art and craft; calligraphy, folding-screen paintings, gold-lacquered boxes and tea-ceremony utensils that have been inspired by waka, the traditional Japanese form of poetry that consists of just 31 syllables (broken up over five lines to 5-7-5-7-7).