| He was the son of [[Ono no Minemori]], who was among the compilers of the ''[[Ryounshu|Ryôunshû]]'', the first Imperially-commissioned collection of ''[[kanshi]]''. As a child, Takamura did not excel at literary or other academic studies, and preferred martial pursuits. Noting this great difference between Takamura and his literary father, [[Emperor Saga]] gave Takamura a nickname, calling him "crazy/uncultivated Ono"<ref>野狂, a combination of 小野 and 粗野.</ref>; this persuaded young Takamura to dedicate himself to his studies, but in the course of his literary pursuits, in one famous incident, he composed a poem insulting the Emperor.<ref>The poem roughly translated to, or implied the message of, "(even though) if not for Emperor Saga, the world would be better off..."</ref> | | He was the son of [[Ono no Minemori]], who was among the compilers of the ''[[Ryounshu|Ryôunshû]]'', the first Imperially-commissioned collection of ''[[kanshi]]''. As a child, Takamura did not excel at literary or other academic studies, and preferred martial pursuits. Noting this great difference between Takamura and his literary father, [[Emperor Saga]] gave Takamura a nickname, calling him "crazy/uncultivated Ono"<ref>野狂, a combination of 小野 and 粗野.</ref>; this persuaded young Takamura to dedicate himself to his studies, but in the course of his literary pursuits, in one famous incident, he composed a poem insulting the Emperor.<ref>The poem roughly translated to, or implied the message of, "(even though) if not for Emperor Saga, the world would be better off..."</ref> |
− | In [[834]], Takamura was appointed vice-envoy (''fukushi'') on a [[kentoshi|mission to China]], but in [[838]], on the occasion of his third departure, he refused the requests of lead envoy [[Fujiwara no Tsunetsugu]], and faked illness so as to avoid having to board the ship. For this, he was exiled to [[Iki]]. | + | In [[834]], Takamura was appointed vice-envoy (''fukushi'') on a [[kentoshi|mission to China]], but in [[838]], on the occasion of his third departure, he refused the requests of lead envoy [[Fujiwara no Tsunetsugu]], and faked illness so as to avoid having to board the ship. For this, he was exiled to [[Ikishima|Iki]]. |
| During his exile, Takamura composed criticisms of the journey to China, but two years later, he was pardoned and recalled. In [[847]], he was appointed ''[[Sangi]]'' (Councillor). He came to be recognized as possessing a wide range of talents and great knowledge, and was much praised, with his poetry compared to that of [[Bai Juyi]] and his calligraphy to that of [[Wang Xizhi]]. Takamura's writings survive in a number of compilations including the [[Kokinshu|Kokinshû]], and he played a role himself in compiling other significant poetry collections. | | During his exile, Takamura composed criticisms of the journey to China, but two years later, he was pardoned and recalled. In [[847]], he was appointed ''[[Sangi]]'' (Councillor). He came to be recognized as possessing a wide range of talents and great knowledge, and was much praised, with his poetry compared to that of [[Bai Juyi]] and his calligraphy to that of [[Wang Xizhi]]. Takamura's writings survive in a number of compilations including the [[Kokinshu|Kokinshû]], and he played a role himself in compiling other significant poetry collections. |