Haiku and other Poetry

The first three lines of renga, in syllables format, were composed by a poet and the remaining syllables were composed by another. In ancient Japan, composing renga was a favorite pastime affairs of poets, aristocrats, even general public. The earliest record of renga poems is found in Kin'yo-shu, an anthology of poems compiled in about In the beginning, renga were based on light topic, however, by 15 th century, there was a distinction drawn between ushin renga serious renga and mushin renga comic renga.

Renga poetry contains at least verses. The first stanza the first three lines , of renga is called hokku. Hokku of a renga later developed into haiku poetry. When the Japanese poets composed haiku and senryu, they used words in terms of sound effect. This was not possible when these Japanese poetry forms were adapted in other languages. The pattern called kana 17 kana in total in Japanese language was translated as 17 syllables in format. The word haiku combines two different words haikai and hokku.

Haikai is a linked-verse Japanese poem in renga poetry style and hokku is the name given to the first stanza of renga poetry. Haikai, a type of renga poetry, consists of at least verses in pattern. Haiku poetry form developed from hokku of haikai and became an independent poetry form in the 17 th century; however, the word haiku was not used until 19 th century.

Haiku was named by Japanese poet Masaoka Shik. Haiku is non-rhyming Japanese poetry form. It is composed in three lines, in format, 17 syllables in total. Haiku is about nature and plays with the imagery, metaphors and emotions of seasons. Japanese characters were developed from Chinese and Korean alphabets, which are basically pictograms. The style of haiku was perfectly compatible with the language because a single character could say many things. However, in other language such as English, an alphabet is just a letter that cannot evoke feelings and emotions, or even sensible meaning.

Therefore, when haiku entered into English and other languages, there were few modifications. The three lines form was maintained in haiku, but the strictness of 17 syllables could not always be retained. The modern haiku does not strictly follow 17 syllables in format. Some haiku poets follow format, whereas some do not even follow the uniform pattern of syllables. The most common haiku format is unrhymed three lines poetry. Haiku poetry form was incorporated in the Western languages in the 19 th century. Imagists popularized English haiku poetry in the early 20 th century.

In the 18th century, Karai Senryu composed short non-rhyming poems, about human foibles and ironies, in form. His poems were called Senryu. Later, all the poems that followed the tradition of Karai Senryu were called senryu. Karai Senryu is the pen name of Karai Hachiemon. Senryu — a Japanese poetry form composed in 17 syllables, in format — is similar to haiku. Like haiku, there have been some modifications in senryu pattern, in modern times.

The basic difference between haiku and senryu is, haiku is written about season and nature, whereas senryu is about the ironies of life. Sometimes it is hard to differentiate senryu with haiku because senryu can also be a commentary on nature or season. To differentiate a senryu with haiku you have to consider the tone.

Thematic treatment in haiku is serious whereas senryu are humorous or cynical. Normally, senryu presents setting, subject and action. It is a commentary on human nature in satirical or humorous tone. The Three Perfections was first practiced during the Tang Dynasty Calligraphy, the art of handwriting, was highly regarded in ancient China. Artists wrote deep and profound lines, in beautiful script, over the painting. Japanese artists emulated the tradition of writing beautiful lines over a painting.

Painting and poetry became complimentary art forms. Poets with painting ability, or the painters who were poets, created visual poetry. During the Edo period — haiku and senryu were combined with painting and calligraphy. Thus, a new visual poetry form was born, it was called Haiga. Haiga is a poetry blended with picture that tells about profound observation of life, living and the world.

Thematically the poetry in the haiga is similar to the picture. Haiga was initially painted over wooden blocks, stones, cloths, and paper and used as room decoration. Haiga is highly regarded in Zen Buddhism. Creating haiga is thought to be a type of Buddhist meditation. The modern haiga normally presents a haiku or senryu written on painting or photograph. In the beginning, when Japanese poetry forms were not developed, waka was used to denote all kinds of poem.

Waka literally means classical Japanese poetry. The word waka was later replaced with tanka. Tanka is the modern name for waka. It is one of the oldest Japanese poetry styles. Tanka is non-rhyming Japanese poetry form composed in five lines, in format, 31 syllables in total. It consists of two elements. The first three lines is called kami-no-ku literally upper phrase and the last two lines is called shimo-no-ku literally lower phrase.

In the ninth and tenth centuries, short poems dominated Japanese poetry styles. Kokinshu is one of the earliest collections of tanka. However, tanka poetry form was almost lost for one thousand years. Japanese poet, essayist, and critic Masaoka Shiki is credited for the revival of tanka poetry, and the invention of haiku from hokku haikai.

Masaoka lived during the reign of Japanese emperor Meiji Tenno Meiji is credited for the development of modern Japan. Masaoka tried to do the same thing in Japanese poetry. Kokin-shu, an anthology of poetry, was compiled by a court noble Ki Tsurayuki in Kokin-shu styles of poetry ruled Japan for about one thousand years. Hagia originated when the artists began writing haiku over their paintings.

Japanese Poetry Forms: Haiku, Senryu, Haiga and Tanka

The artists experimented with typography. The basic intention of writing haiku was to showcase calligraphy that also explained the painting. Thus, haiga became an art form. In the modern time, when people began creating haiga on photographs, it lost the meaning of art, and it became more of literary form. Sign in or sign up and post using a HubPages Network account. Comments are not for promoting your articles or other sites. I saw this Hub on one of my Hubs and I find it very informative. Thanks for doing the research for, and publishing, this very informative article. Thanks, too, for including links to my articles about poetic forms.

Poetry is a beautiful, artistic form of expression..

You have added to that beauty with this Hub. I knew about Haiku but the others are a new discovery to me. I thought Daisy was the only one who delved in poetic cultures. Haiku poetry swept through Hubpages. In its wake were were presented with Senryu and then Haiga. It is so interesting to read your article bringing all the forms together for review. Thank you for defining these poetry forms.

I love the challenge of a Haiku, but have not taken on any of the others you mention. What a comprehensive hub here on Japanese poetry forms. I learned a lot reading here. I knew of most forms, but not all. Thank you for another excellent write. You have really cover a lot of stuff.

I will certainly bookmark this to come back to, thank you so much, you have done a wonderful job! I am familiar with haiku and tanka but not the others. Thanks for the education, Vinaya! Well done my friend. Haiku, Senryu, Haiga and Tanka, you have covered all the aspects of Japanese poetry very interesting and useful. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. HubPages and Hubbers authors may earn revenue on this page based on affiliate relationships and advertisements with partners including Amazon, Google, and others.

To provide a better website experience, owlcation. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so. For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: History of Japanese Poetry The classical Japanese poetry is referred as waka. Waka Japan was heavily influenced by Chinese poetry, Japanese poets composed poems in Chinese language.

He named this form the lune, because the right side of most examples creates a crescent shape, like a crescent moon.

Another fellow, named Jack Collum, was teaching this form to children, and slightly misremembered it. This being somewhat easier for children to count, the form has stuck. I hope that this brief overview of these related forms has inspired you to write some of your own. And try to have a significant change in thought, some measure of surprise, in one of the breaks. Your readers will appreciate the effort! Thanks for the question, Bonnie. I just prefer the concision enforced by formalist boundaries. This is such a clear, concise explanation of the forms. I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciate it.

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Japanese Poetry Forms: Haiku, Senryu, Haiga and Tanka | Owlcation

It has seventeen syllables. It has a conceptual break after either the fifth syllable or the twelfth. It includes a seasonal word to ground it in nature. It is not metaphorical.

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Tanka A related form in that it developed from the same historic roots as haiku and senryu is the tanka. Final Words I hope that this brief overview of these related forms has inspired you to write some of your own. July 3, Lester 0 Comment.