The Tales of Ise
Thematically, "The Tales of Ise" embodies the courtly "miyabi" aesthetic, prevalent among the surviving works produced by and for the culture elite of the Heian period, such as the more well-known "The Tale of Genji". The poems themselves explore nature, the court society, culture, and love and relationships. A highlight can be shown from the interlude in section 9, as the central character rests beside the "yatsuhashi" or eight bridges in the famous iris marshes of Mikawa province. The poem he composes combines these themes: the sense of loss at leaving the capital, viewed as the only place of society and culture; longing for lost loves; and the beauty of the natural environment.