Renga

Renga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Renga (連歌, Renga?) is a form of Japanese collaborative poetry. Ren=connected or linked. Ga=elegance. A renga consists of at least two ku (句, ku?) or stanzas, often many more. The opening stanza of the renga chain, called the hokku (発句, hokku?), later became the basis for the modern haiku style of poetry.
As the renga was a popular poetry form for many centuries, there are many sayings that find their roots in renga traditions. The Japanese phrase ageku no hate (挙句の果て, ageku no hate?) means “at last”, as the ageku is the last stanza of a renga.