NAKAJIMA SOU-INN'S POEMS ABOUT PALMS --- From the Viewpoint of Comparative Literature between Chinese and Japanese

In the late period of modern times, Nakajima Sou-Inn, named 文吉 as well, who had the same prestige and talent as中島棕隱 (1779-1855),
especially appreciated palms. Both of them were the representatives of Kyto poetry school. 《水流雲在樓集》is the poetry collection which was published last in his life. There are six poems which depict and praise the palms. “I visited 平井宗七 by chance after fall when the gardener was
trimming the fence. In the fence was a palm tree, which was about three and a half meters tall and extraordinarily healthy and green. I appreciated it deeply; therefore 宗七 pities me as a palm addict and gave up what he treasured to give me as a present. Thus I thanked him with a poem.”
With carefully analyzing and studying the Chinese and Japanese data, this thesis is to distinguish how Nakajima Sou-Inn, who was named
“literary enchanter,” developed his remarkable talents and how he used palms, which were not valued in Chinese and Japanese poems, as a new
material to compose fresh and touching poems. Because of this, he held an important position during the late Edo Era.