Early tankas were often written as a form of literary game, with one poet writing the first three lines, a second poet writing the last two lines. In time the first three became a separate form, the haiku. As with haiku, the traditional tanka relies on the use of a few carefully chosen images, the aim being not direct statement or description, but the subtle evocation of a scene or mood. The images are frequently taken from a traditional range of nature images - the moon, pools, autumn leaves, snow, and so on - and show the influence of Japan's nature religion, Shinto. In their emphasis on a few seemingly disparate images meant to produce a sudden illumination, later tanka were also influenced by Zen Buddhism.

Despite this concentration on the subtle evocation of a mood, the best Japanese haiku were also able to suggest a wide range of cultural, social, and historical references, though these are completely lost in translation. The poet's skill was measured by the layers of meaning a tanka, though brief and seemingly very simple, would in time reveal through contemplation.