Japanese Poetry

1. Japanese Poetry Haiku and Tanka

2. Haiku Poetry • Shortest form of poetry developed in Japan • Emerged in late 17th century • Very popular today (There are dozens of magazines dedicated to haiku.) • Most educated Japanese can easily write a haiku.

3. What is haiku? • Three line poem consisting of 17 syllables. • First line = 5 syllables • Second line = 7 syllables • Third line = 5 syllables • Often includes a reference to nature • Written in present tense • Not descriptive; it provides a series of images to be connected with reader’s imagination

4. A Butterfly • A falling flower, thought I, • Fluttering back to the branch - • Was a butterfly. • Moritake

5. The River • See the river flow, • In a long unbroken line • On the field of snow. • Boncho

6. Tanka Poetry • Tanka is perhaps the oldest form of Japanese poetry. • It was first used as a form of prayer. • It became the standard form of poetry during the Heian Period.

7. What is tanka? • Five line poem consisting of 31 syllables. • First line = 5 syllables • Second line = 7 syllables • Third line = 5 syllables • Fourth line = 7 syllables • Fifth line = 7 syllables • Written to celebrate events or occasions • Written in present tense • Each line expresses a single idea

8. Untitled • Off in front of me • on that distant summit • is the setting sun, • while in the mountain shadow • darkness moves through the pines • Jusammi Chikako

9. Untitled • Not a trace is left • of that blossom-tinted wind • that filled my garden. • Those who visit me now • will see only fallen snow. • Fujiwara no Teika