Japanese Poetry

Influenced by Chinese tradition, the Japanese regarded poetry as the highest form of literature. Like the Chinese, they appreciated brevity, imagery, sensory language, and focus on philosophy. Moreover, both cultures shared thematic elements in their poetry, reflecting similar philosophies about the harmony between nature and humanity. These were linked to the images of nature and the feelings triggered by the contemplating and gazing mind. However, despite many adoptions from Chinese tradition, the Japanese have infused their unique sensibilities into creating a distinct style of literature deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Their unique poetry is considered a phenomenon in world literature.

Hokku (haiku) and tanka (the modern term for waka – poetry composed in Japanese) are the oldest genres of Japanese poetry.

Tanka

Tanka (“a short poem”) is a 5-line song or chant that established the trend for the Japanese poetic genre. According to tradition, tanka stemmed from the calendar rituals and later replaced long poetic songs called nagauta. The subject matter of medieval Japanese poetry often revolved around the essence of the seasons. Tanka covered 4 seasons, each traditionally associated with transitions in nature and practices in the community. Another topic was the daily life of people.

A tanka verse typically captures a mood shift, imbued with vagueness and riddles, and is traditionally recited in a chant-like, slow, and emotional manner.

Prominent tanka poems are found in “Manyoshu”, a collection of poems from the Nara period, and within the prose narrative of “The Tale of Genji”, which intersperses poems throughout its story.

Tanka Structure

The tanka poem comprises five lines, typically divided mentally into two parts: the first three lines and the last two lines. Even without rhyme or any specific meter, it remains a lyrical and melodic form of poetry. The first three lines usually present an image from nature, while the subsequent two lines reveal the person's feelings, emotions, and thoughts about that very image. It was a common practice when one poet would start writing the first part of the verse, and another would finish the second part. Gradually, tanka paved the way to a longer poem, such as renga that could also be composed by numerous poets.

Examples of tanka poems:

Haiku

Haiku is a genre of Japanese poetry that has gained global popularity. Originally known as hokku, it developed into the independent form of haiku in the 17th century. Initially, hokku was the first stanza of renga or tanka.

The Japanese writer Masaoka Shiki coined the term haiku in the 19th century. This poetic form was intended to democratize Japanese poetry, making it more accessible. As a novelty, it opened the door to poetic expression without rules (free verse).

Did you know?

Hokku originally served as the opening stanza of renga and evolved in the context of spoken word entertainment at the court. Every Japanese and Chinese imperial court had a poet who composed hokku. Despite many poets coming from peasant families, their exceptional hokku skills could earn them fortune and titles.

The general topics of hokku were court intrigues, nature, love, and passion.

Haiku Structure

In comparison, while tanka focuses on revealing hidden messages, haiku emphasizes capturing the subtleties of impressions, emotions, thoughts, and worries. Haiku originated from tanka.

Haiku is a lyric verse that explores nature, the relationship between humans and nature, and human activities across the seasons.

It is characterized by its lyricism and concise form. The ability to convey a moment in a meaningful word tells a lot about the poet’s mastery.

Matsuo Basho (1661-1738) perfected the hokku style to a level that his disciples always aspired to achieve. In his poetry, Basho followed the concept of sabi - the solitude or admiring beauty in quietness and stillness.

Haiku is typically a one-stanza poem that conveys a complete, vivid image with 'just enough' words, relying on a few carefully chosen details.

Matsuo Basho haiku poems:

Haiku is a poem of 17 morae (syllables) in a specific order. The typical pattern is 5-7-5.

Composing haiku is not easy because a poet needs to fit 17 sounds in three lines and, at the same time, infect the reader with their mood, reflections, observations, or feelings from the things they experienced. Every word in tanka and haiku is paramount, including prepositions and conjunctions.

The tradition of preserving haiku made this poetic genre a true work of art.

Non-Japanese Haiku Writers

Non-Japanese poets have significantly contributed to the global appreciation and adaptation of the haiku form.

In the 20th century, poets like Ezra Pound and Amy Lowell were inspired by haiku to experiment with concise poetic expressions, though their works were adaptations rather than traditional haiku. Later, poets such as Gary Snyder and Allen Ginsberg fully embraced the form, incorporating themes of nature, simplicity, and mindfulness, which helped establish haiku as a respected poetic form in the Western literary world. More recently, haiku has been adapted to address contemporary issues such as environmentalism and social justice, demonstrating its continued relevance and adaptability across various linguistic and cultural contexts.