Takashina no Takako


Takashina no Takako, also known as the mother of the Honorary Grand Minister or as Kō no Naishi, was a Japanese waka poet of the mid-Heian period. One of her poems was included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.

Biography

She was the daughter of Takashina no Naritada.
By her husband Fujiwara no Michitaka, she was the mother of Takaie, Empress Teishi and Korechika, who was known as the Honorary Grand Minister. She is accordingly frequently referred to as the mother of the Honorary Grand Minister.
Her other nickname, Kō no Naishi, is a combination of the first character of her patronymic family name — taka or kō — and her position serving Emperor En'yū, naishi.
She died in 996.

Poetry

Five of her poems were included in imperial anthologies from the Shūi Wakashū on.
The following poem by her was included as No. 54 in Fujiwara no Teika's Ogura Hyakunin Isshu: