also: せんどうか
noun
sedōka; traditional Japanese poem with a 5-7-7-5-7-7 moraic pattern
A classical poetic form consisting of six lines in a 5-7-7-5-7-7 moraic pattern, found in the Man'yōshū and other early collections. The term is primarily encountered in literary or historical contexts.
旋頭歌は、万葉集に収められている古い詩形の一つです。
The sedōka is one of the old poetic forms included in the Man'yōshū.
旋頭歌の特徴は、五・七・七・五
The characteristic of the sedōka lies in its 5-7-7-5-7-7 moraic pattern.
The term 旋頭歌 literally means 'head-turning poem,' possibly referring to the repetition of the 5-7-7 pattern. The exact origin of the name is uncertain.