also: もとうた
noun
original poem; source poem
In classical Japanese poetry, the earlier poem that is alluded to or adapted in a later poem (honkadori). Used in literary and academic contexts.
この和歌の本歌は古今集にある。
The original poem for this waka is in the Kokinshū.
本歌取りの技法では、本歌の一部を新しい歌に取り込む。
In the technique of honkadori, part of the original poem is incorporated into a new poem.
本歌取り is the technique of allusive variation, while 本歌 is the source poem itself.
Compound of 本 (hon, 'original') and 歌 (ka, 'poem'). The reading もとうた uses the native reading of 本 (moto) and 歌 (uta).