tanka

Meanings

1. A form of Japanese verse in five lines of 5, 7, 5, 7, and 7 morae.

1. Alternative form of thangka (“Tibetan religious artwork”).

1. Alternative form of Tanka (“ethnic group of boat people living in China”).
2. A kind of boat used in Guangdong, about 25 feet long and often rowed by Tanka women; junk.

1. A coin and unit of currency of varying value, formerly used in parts of India and Central Asia.

1. A member of a group of people in southern China who traditionally live on junks.

Etymology

From Japanese 短歌 (tanka, “short song”), from Middle Chinese 短 (MC twanX) 歌 (MC ka) (compare Mandarin 短歌 (duǎngē) duǎngē).