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Tag Archives: haikai
LEARNING FROM THE AUTUMN MOON
When we think of the Fall — of Autumn — we think of colored leaves, falling leaves, and of the moon. We look at the autumn moon for a few moments, and then we move on with our lives, unless … Continue reading
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Tagged autumn, Autumn Moon, Bashô, fall, Full moon, haikai, harvest moon, hokku, moon, poetry, writing
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TO EVERY THING THERE IS A SEASON
Unlike most other kinds of verse, the hokku is linked with the season in which it is written. In fact one can say truthfully that whatever the obvious subject of a hokku, the real subject is the season in which … Continue reading
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Tagged Bashô, haikai, haiku, hokku, kidai, kigo, Masaoka Shiki, Modern Haiku, nature, Old pond, poetry, saijiki, season book, season subjects, season words, seasons, Shiki, writing
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THE LAST OF HOKKU HERE?
I have long made no secret of the fact that in my view, the hokku tradition of Japan was greatly distorted when it was introduced to the West as “haiku.” Instead of paying attention to R. H. Blyth, Westerners instead … Continue reading
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Tagged falling snow, haikai, hokku, Katsuri, nature, Poems, poetry, verse, winter, zen
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THERE IS HOKKU AND THERE IS HOKKU
From time to time I like to explain, so there will be no confusion, just what it is that I teach as hokku. It is not precisely the same as old Japanese hokku. Most people would, in fact, feel old … Continue reading
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Tagged haikai, haiku, hokku, nature, poetry, seasons, spirituality, writing, zen
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MORE ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HOKKU
A reader has asked me to clarify a few points in this list (borrowed from R. H. Blyth) of the characteristics of hokku. Though he asked about only three, perhaps it might be helpful to give some explanation of all, … Continue reading
WORKING WITH PATTERNS
In studying contemplative hokku, a very good way to begin learning is by using patterns. Patterns are hokku “frameworks” that we can use for writing countless new hokku. By using them we learn the feel of the hokku form, and … Continue reading
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Tagged autumn, fish, haikai, hokku, larks, Onitsura, patterns, scarecrows, Shiki, smoke, spring
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HOKKU IS NOT “WRITING POETRY”
I have written previously about this statement by R. H. Blyth on hokku. He tells us that a hokku “…is the result of the wish, the effort, not to speak, not to write poetry, not to obscure further the truth … Continue reading
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Tagged Boshō, chestnuts, haikai, hokku, nature, poetry, R. H. Blyth, writing, zen
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IT’S STILL THE SAME OLD STORY
Yesterday I discussed three “Western” calendar systems relevant to hokku — the traditional calendar, the meteorological calendar, and the “natural” calendar. The first is astronomical, and depends on the relationship between the sun and the earth; the second shows us … Continue reading
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Tagged autumn, Autumn Equinox, Bealtaine, Candlemas, China calendar, fall, Great Yule, haikai, Halloween, Harvest Home, hokku, hokku calendar, hokku seasons, Imbolc, japan calendar, Lammas, Lughnasadh, May Day, Midsummer, Misummer's Day, Samhain, spring, Spring Equinox, summer, Summer Solstice, winter, Winter Solstice
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THE NATURE OF HOKKU
R. H. Blyth gives a good summary of the characteristics — the nature — of hokku. In that summary we find: 1. Willing limitations (hokku is not “all things to all men” and has willingly-accepted standards and boundaries). 2. … Continue reading
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Tagged haikai, hokku, poetry, poverty, simplicity, writing, zen
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FALLING LEAVES AND WILD GEESE
Today I would like to discuss two hokku that are somewhat similar in effect. Originally one was an autumn hokku, the other a winter hokku. The explanation lies in old Japanese verse, with its somewhat artificial system of “season words” … Continue reading
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Tagged autumn, fall, fallen leaves, falling leaves, Gyôdai, haikai, haiku, hokku, Kyoroku, poetry, rain, seasons, wild geese, writing, zen
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HOKKU IS NOT HAIKU, AND VICE-VERSA
From time to time I like to remind people why I use historically-accurate terminology here, instead of the inaccurate, anachronistic, and very misleading and confusing term “haiku.” Bashō called what he wrote hokku, as a part of his practice of … Continue reading
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Tagged Bashô, haikai, haiku, hokku, Masaoka Shiki, Modern Haiku, poetry, Shiki, writing
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SNAILS, LOCKS, AND BRUSHWOOD GATES
In Japan, Issa’s hokku have always been remarkably popular. And they are popular in the West as well — at least the better known verses, among which one finds this: The brushwood gate; Instead of a lock, A snail. But … Continue reading
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Tagged haikai, hokku, Issa, lock, sentimentality, snail, summer
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LISTENING TO R. H. BLYTH
It is always disappointing to see how the creators of modern haiku trivialize, dismiss, or ignore the writings of the very person from whom they could have learned the most, were they not so self-willed and self-absorbed — R. H. … Continue reading
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Tagged haikai, hokku, Meister Eckhart, nature, poetry, writing, zen, Zenrinkushu
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THE HEAT!
R. H. Blyth remarks that “only in Japan can we find hundreds of ‘poems’ written on the subject of heat.” That he puts “poems” in quotes is significant, and indicates — as I always tell students — that we should … Continue reading
IS HOKKU DIFFICULT?
Is hokku difficult? The simple answer is no. The only difficulty in hokku comes from what we add to it from our own minds. Really, a hokku is just a meaningful experience of the senses expressed in the context of … Continue reading
THE ONE-FOOT WATERFALL
Issa wrote: The one-foot waterfall Also makes sounds; The evening cool. This is Issa’s version of “The morning glory that lives but a day differs not at heart from the giant pine that lives for a thousand years.” A one-foot … Continue reading
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Tagged coolness, haikai, hokku, Issa, nature, one-foot waterfall, poetry, subjectivity, summer, waterfall, writing, zen
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THE WINDBELL IS SILENT
You will recall that very old hokku often used two things joined by a third. Yayu wrote an interesting hokku that uses two things also, but provides the third that unites them in an interesting way: The windbell is silent; … Continue reading
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Tagged clock, haikai, harmony of opposites, heat, hokku, summer, windbell, Yayu
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A GREAT TREE
A great tree Felled in the summer mountains; The echoing. Meisetsu
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT
Good hokku generally have strong sensation. By sensation we mean an experience of the senses — seeing, tasting, touching, smelling, and hearing. Those of you with an inquisitive bent of mind may think, “Well, if hokku is all about sensation, … Continue reading
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Tagged ants, context, haikai, harmony of similarity, hokku, horses, poetry, sensation, summer, writing, zen
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A COOL WIND: OBJECTIVITY IN HOKKU
In my last posting, I discussed the distinction between subjective and objective hokku. We can think of it this way: An objective hokku is a thing-event. A subjective hokku is generally a thing-event plus the “thinking” of the writer. Shiki … Continue reading
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Tagged Bahiya Sutta, haikai, hokku, nature, Onitsura, pines, poetry, sea, Shiki, stone lantern, wind, writing, zen
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SUBJECTIVE HOKKU, OBJECTIVE HOKKU
We earlier saw that there are basically two different kinds of hokku — subjective hokku and objective hokku. Subjective hokku are those in which the writer adds his own view or interpretation, his “thinking.” Objective hokku are those that simply … Continue reading
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Tagged Bashô, Chiyo-ni, haikai, hokku, Issa, objective, Onitsura, poetry, Rankô, subjective, writing, zen
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“TRUE” AND “UNTRUE” HOKKU
In the past I have talked about the four kinds of verse, which can further be reduced to two kinds: 1. The “facts” of the verse viewed subjectively. 2. The “facts” of the verse viewed objectively. An important stage in … Continue reading
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Tagged Bashô, Contemplative Verse, haikai, hokku, nature, objective, Old pond, poetry, subjective, unblown flute, wild ducks, writing
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AVOIDING DISTRACTIONS
It is important to distinguish the essentials from the nonessentials in learning hokku. Many people easily get sidetracked, often never finding their way back. There are, of course, ways to improve one’s conscious understanding of hokku. But it is the … Continue reading
A SUDDEN SHOWER
Readers will long ago have noticed that I use old hokku — including verses just beyond what is technically the old “hokku” period — quite often. My purpose in doing so is not just to provide a collection of old … Continue reading
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Tagged carp, haikai, hokku, Kikaku, nature, poetry, Shiki, sudden shower, summer, women, writing, zen
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THE CLEAR WATER
A pleasant and simple summer hokku by Kitō: Little fish Are carried backwards; The clear water. We see the tiny fish in the clear, sunlight water, swimming against the current, which nonetheless is so strong that, still facing upstream, they … Continue reading
ONE BIG, LAZY CAT IS ALL OF SUMMER
Issa wrote this summer hokku: The big cat – Flopped down on the fan Asleep. It is rather typical Issa, with his connection to animals and his kind of humor. The point of the verse is that it is summer, … Continue reading
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Tagged cat, coolness, fan, haikai, heat, hokku, Issa, poetry, spirituality, summer, writing, zen
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INTRODUCING “CHINESE-STYLE” POETRY WRITING
As readers know, I often use the ancient concept of the two opposite yet harmoniously-working elements of the universe, Yin and Yang, in explaining hokku. Jia Dao wrote: Asking the young boy beneath the pine, He says, “Master is off … Continue reading
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Tagged Chinese poetry, clouds, haikai, hokku, Jia Dao, mountains, nature, poetry, rivers, writing, zen
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FROM BELOW THE BRIDGE
Issa, whom we do not often use as a model, wrote this summer hokku: From below The bridge I creep across – A cuckoo! Though Issa says merely “bridge,” we can tell from his timid creeping across it that it is … Continue reading
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Tagged cuckoo, haikai, hanging bridge, hokku, hototogisu, Issa, nature, poetry, summer, writing, zen
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SO?
The Germans have a great expression — “Na, und?” It is the equivalent of the American “So what?” — or more briefly, “So?” That should be our attitude toward those who like to argue and intellectualize about hokku. Suppose, for … Continue reading
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Tagged haikai, hokku, nature, poetry, poverty, seasons, simplicity, transience, writing, zen
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HOKKU — AN OLD-FASHIONED WAY OF BEING NEW
I am always surprised and amazed by those who speak of hokku as though it were something outdated and to be discarded. The emphasis today is on “new,” “new,” “new” and “different,” “different, “different.” What people with such childish thinking … Continue reading
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Tagged Buson, downspout, haikai, hokku, June, newness, poetry, rain, Robert Frost, Thoreau, writing, zen
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A HOKKU IN FIVE WORDS
There is a summer hokku by Kikaku that requires very few words in English translation: Inazuma ya kinō wa higashi kyō wa nishi Lightning ya yesterday wa east today wa west. Lightning; Yesterday east, Today west. Even though … Continue reading
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Tagged haikai, harmony of contrast, harmony of similarity, hokku, Kikaku, lightning, summer
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THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE
Today was beautiful where I am. After days and days of pouring rain and cool temperatures, the sky cleared, the sun shone, and the temperature rose into the low 80s. It made me think of the old lines from the … Continue reading
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Tagged Buson, grove of trees, haikai, heat, hokku, nature, poetry, spiderwebs, statement hokku, summer, turtle, turtle dove, writing, Yang, zen
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ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY HOKKU
Sooner or later (I hope sooner) in the study of hokku, one begins to ask just what makes an extraordinary hokku. The question is inevitable because all of us, in our practice, are going to write lots of very ordinary … Continue reading
THIS FLOATING WORLD
A reader, having seen one of the hokku of Bashō, asked me exactly what is meant by the term “floating world.” Was Bashō in it? Are we in it? It all depends on the sense in which we understand the … Continue reading
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Tagged "floating world", autumn, Bashô, buckeye, chestnuts, chinese horse chestnuts, haikai, hokku, horse chestnuts, Kiso, ukiyo, World of Dust, World of Sorrow
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