This book argues that waka (Japanese poems) should be based on the theory of "mono no aware" (the pathos of things), and is usually regarded as the further development of the view of waka described in "Ashiwakeobune" (treatise on waka poetry).
内容はもののあはれの説を基軸として和歌のありうべきすがたを論じたもので、通常は『排蘆小船』の和歌観をさらに展開させたものと考えられる。