also: くにぶり
national customs and manners; traditional Japanese culture
Refers to the distinctive customs, traditions, and cultural practices of Japan, often in contrast to foreign or Chinese influences.
この祭りは古くからの国風を今に伝えている。
This festival preserves ancient national customs to this day.
provincial song or ballad; folk song
Historical term for local songs or ballads from the provinces, especially in the context of early Japanese poetry collections.
万葉集には多くの国風が収められている。
The Man'yōshū contains many provincial songs.
waka; classical Japanese poetry
Specifically refers to waka (和歌) as native Japanese poetry, as opposed to Chinese-style poetry (漢詩). Used in literary or historical contexts.
平安時代には国風が漢詩と並んで盛んに詠まれた。
During the Heian period, waka flourished alongside Chinese poetry.
国柄 refers to the character or nature of a country, often its political or social traits, whereas 国風 focuses on cultural customs and traditions.
Standard kanji spelling for the reading くにぶり. Also read こくふう, but that reading is less common.
Alternate reading of the same kanji, less common than くにぶり. May appear in older or formal texts.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, sometimes used for clarity or when the kanji 風 is avoided.
Alternate kanji spelling; 振り is an ateji for ぶり. Rarely used.
A compound of 国 and 風, with 風 read ぶり in the sense of “manner,” “custom,” or “style.” It came to denote the customs, songs, and poetic tradition of a country or region.