World Literature

 Japanese did not have letters until Chinese introduced their letters in second or third century. After then the Japanese started using Chinese letters. Of course ancient Japanese used these letters for learning Chinese progressed culture. As you know, Chinese letters are basically ideograms that were originally pictograph and every single letter has its own meaning.

   For example, the letter for turtle is 亀 . This letter is simplified one as compared to original one but still the shape of turtle is obvious. Roughly saying, average Japanese can read letters of 5,000 or more but can write down 2,000 or less. At elementary school and junior high school, 1,800 of letters are taught.

The modern Japanese writing system uses three main scripts:

Kanji, ideographs from Chinese characters,

Kana, a pair of syllabaries, consisting of

Hiragana, used for native Japanese words, and

Katakana, used for foreign loanwords and sometimes to replace kanji or hiragana for emphasis.

Kanji 癌 gan ("cancer") 峠 tōge (mountain pass)

Katakana コンピュータゲーム konpyūta gēmu

("computer game") コーヒー kōhī, ("coffee")

Hiragana コンニチワ konnichiwa ("hello") 皮膚科 hifuka ("dermatology")

Kabuki Theater Noh Theater Bunraku - Puppet

Theater Geisha Musical Instruments

Sado - Tea Ceremony Kodo - The Way of Incense Ikebana - Flower Arranging Ukiyoe - Woodblock Prints Bonsai - Miniature Trees Origami - Paper Folding Classical Literature Modern Literature

Kimono Footwear

Haiku historyHaiku history Haiku is one of the most important

form of traditional Japanese poetry. Haiku is both a type of poetic pattern

and a way of experiencing the world. A well-executed haiku is rooted in

the physical world of our senses, yet suggests something deeper, often evoking the mysterious, transitory nature of all existence.

Haiku is, today, a 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables.

The term hokku literally means "starting verse", and was the first starting link of a much longer chain of verses known ashaika. 

Because the hokku set the tone for the rest of the poetic chain, it enjoyed a privileged position in haikai poetry, and it was not uncommon for a poet to compose a hokku by itself without following up with the rest of the chain.

Haiku derives from a type of Japanese court poetry called tanka that was popularized and refined during the 9th through 12 centuries.

Traditional haiku is an example of pure syllabic verse. Which means that the number of syllables determines the form, not the number of stressed words in a line.

Traditional Japanese pattern: 17 syllables 3 lines 1st line: 5 syllables 2nd line: 7 syllables 3rd line: 5 syllables

Other important elements: Simple, direct, non-metaphorical language. Don't

use abstract words. Captures a transitory insight or moment in time

(called "satori" or the "aha moment" ) Contains a kigo, an image of nature that evokes

a particular seasons (usually occurs in the 1st or 3rd line)

Usually contains a cutting or pivot word that turns the movement of the poem in some way.

Haiku is a poetic form and a type of poetry from the Japanese culture.

Haiku combines form, content, and language in a meaningful, yet compact form.

Many themes include nature, feelings, or experiences.

 Usually they use simple words and grammar. 

The most common form for Haiku is three short lines.

The first line usually contains five (5) syllables, the second line seven (7) syllables, and the third line contains five (5) syllables. 

Haiku doesn't rhyme. A Haiku must "paint" a

mental image in the reader's mind.

translated by William J. Higginson*

Basho Matsuo is known as the first great poet in the history of haikai (and haiku).

He too, wrote poems using jokes and plays upon words in his early stages, as they were in fashion, but began to attach importance to the role of thought in haikai (especially in hokku) from around 1680.

The thought of Tchouang-tseu, philosopher in the 4th century B.C., influenced greatly Basho, and he often quoted the texts of "The Book of master Tchouang" in his hokkus.

The thinker Tchouang-tseu denied the artificiality and the utilitarianism, seeing value of intellect low.

He asserted that things seemingly useless had the real value, and that it was the right way of life not to go against the natural law.

He was considered the father of haiku had studied Taoism and classical Chinese poetry in his youth.

At first he wrote derivative verse, but eventually broke free from the conventions of Japanese poetry, which at the time, had an elegant, refined style full of allusions to the court.

He began to wander the countryside and write travel journals as well as tanka.

During the last part of his life he attempted to live with "karumi" or "lightness."

Or as he said in one of his poems "like looking at a shallow river with a sandy bed."

To a leg of a heronAdding a long shankOf a pheasant.

First day of spring--I keep thinking aboutthe end of autumn.

Spring rainleaking through the roofdripping from the wasps'

nest.

Fallen sick on a journey,In dreams I run wildlyOver a withered moor.

An old silent pond...A frog jumps into the

pond,splash! Silence again.

The first soft snow!Enough to bend the

leavesOf the jonquil low.

In the cicada's cryNo sign can foretellHow soon it must die.

No one travelsAlong this way but I,This autumn evening.

In all the rains of Maythere is one thing not

hidden -the bridge at Seta Bay.

The years first daythoughts and loneliness;the autumn dusk is here.

Clouds appearand bring to men a

chance to restfrom looking at the moon.

Harvest moon:around the pond I

wanderand the night is gone.

Poverty's child -he starts to grind the

rice,and gazes at the moon.

No blossoms and no moon,and he is drinking sakeall alone!

Won't you come and seeloneliness? Just one leaffrom the kiri tree.

Temple bells die out.The fragrant blossoms

remain.A perfect evening!

Green frog,Is your body alsofreshly painted?

Sick and feverishGlimpse of cherry

blossomsStill shivering.

At the over-matured sushi,The MasterIs full of regret.

Pressing Sushi;After a while,A lonely feeling

A whale!Down it goes, and more and

moreup goes its tail!

Covered with the flowers,

Instantly I'd like to dieIn this dream of ours!

In my old homewhich I forsook, the

cherriesare in bloom.

A giant firefly:that way, this way, that

way, this -and it passes by.

Right at my feet -and when did you get

here,snail?

My grumbling wife -if only she were here!This moon tonight...

A lovely thing to see:through the paper window's

hole,the Galaxy.

A man, just one -also a fly, just one -in the huge drawing room.

A sudden shower falls -and naked I am ridingon a naked horse!