The Kin'yō Wakashū (金葉和歌集, "Collection of Golden Leaves"), sometimes abbreviated as Kin'yōshū, is the fifth Japanese imperial anthology of waka whose two drafts were finished in 1124 and 1127.
It was compiled at the behest of the Retired Emperor Shirakawa, by Minamoto no Shunrai (~1055–1129; sometimes called Toshiyori) It consists of ten volumes containing 716 poems.
The first version, known as "shodobon (初度本)," predominantly featured poets from the earliest three imperial anthologies—Kokinshu, Gosenshu, and Shuishu—reflecting a conservative approach.
Although formally accepted by Shirawaka, its dissemination through the court was hindered by the untimely deaths of both Shunrai and Shirakawa, occurring just two years after its approval.
These ten volumes are classified into Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Celebration, Separation, Love, and Miscellaneous categories.
[3] Conversely, the topic of the moon appears across all seasons but becomes specifically associated with autumn by the era of Kin'yō Wakashū.