I like "xinyou 心遊 the free wandering of mind" the best too! It's the essence of living--at least for me. This post also reminded me of the times I've been disappointed in English. So often words in my adopted language are poetic from the start, without having to be explained. As for types of rain, one of the first words I learned was Schnurregen, or string rain, a specialty in Salzburg.
Beautiful ikebana. Forsythia and tulips? I would never tire of them. And I love how the tulips lift out of the air and rest in it at the same time. The opening with Basho! Gorgeous. This entire piece contains lovely thoughts, Leanne. Thank you for sharing! Actually, I have been mulling about the flower moon recently, though its secrets continue to elude me.
Yes, my teacher said that Forsythia was perfect for the lunar new year! And I looked it up and the bright yellow probably is one of the reasons and I also read that the plant is used in Chinese medicine and it’s very healing! Thank you so much for reading. I was wondering if this post would be a little esoteric and not interesting to people! But I found all of the concepts for ancient Chinese to be really interesting !! People often talk about haiku has been something that stripped away of all preconceived notions And you just stand in front of the world and let the present moment emerge. Even my beloved Jane Hirshfield says as much in her book 10 windows… But I actually really don’t think that’s accurate because all premodern poetry in Japan really exists through the prism of the canon — it is a conversation with the moment but also with the tradition❤️
I'm so glad you appreciate this. From what you've written, I imagine that the prism of the canon respects the communitarian social order i.e. because we are all discreetly connected each to the other, the poem's language (pillow words, for example)reflects our shared existence. The pivot words place the particular observer here as the witness to the moment -- qualities of rhythm and image to create the pivot, eh? You should really write more of what you've discussed. It is so crucial to the work. What really distinguishes it.
My original post was very very much and the spirit of what you just wrote above. I didn’t talk about Pivot, but I talked about pillow words, kigo, kago and meisho. I think it is a conversation with the community, but it’s also a much larger community that goes back in time 1000 years or more and connect people as far away as China. It’s definitely not detached …. I think this could be in one sense, a big difference from contemporary haiku written in English, which feels much more personal. And I really like how you said that it reflects a shared experience as well as a shared existence! It’s really interesting!
Thank you for this writing and introducing a Chinese perspective to haiku and Japanese aesthetics. I really feel the emergence of a greater appreciation and understanding of the Asian creative instinct. You are certainly a channel for that. 💫🙏💫
Wonderful piece and beautiful ikebana, Leanne! ❤️I also appreciate your book recommendation on Basho and the Tao. By the way, thanks for recommending ‘In the Footsteps of Du Fu’ which I read with pleasure on my way to Chongqing, gateway to the Three Gorges where Du Fu composed many of his masterpieces.
I have enjoyed reading about your travels so much. My dream is to visit Chongqing. It has been a dream since I was young... it sounds like you had a wonderful trip!!!! Thank you so much for reading this post. I was so happy when I saw your comment xo
Sorry, I don’t have any of the logistic marks. It’s just too much trouble for me. I’m on my phone right now too, but the characters are the exact same. That’s just the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese characters that you see if I made any mistakes please tell me it’s very very possible. I have careless mistakes in there, also a friend on Facebook that I think is quite a talented scholar feels that The author of this book is one of the most important academics working in literary today. I do think coming from a Chinese background with a solid understanding of classical puts her in a really, really really good place to talk about basho … I’m dictating this on my phone. I hope there’s not too many terrible mistakes.
It looks like it should be shōyōyū, but there could be other conventions in play. Anyway, the first time I’ve seen it, I think (or else I’ve seen it but completely forgotten about it.
I like "xinyou 心遊 the free wandering of mind" the best too! It's the essence of living--at least for me. This post also reminded me of the times I've been disappointed in English. So often words in my adopted language are poetic from the start, without having to be explained. As for types of rain, one of the first words I learned was Schnurregen, or string rain, a specialty in Salzburg.
I love that!!!! Salzburg is magic!! And I agree 心遊 is the essence of living!
Beautiful ikebana. Forsythia and tulips? I would never tire of them. And I love how the tulips lift out of the air and rest in it at the same time. The opening with Basho! Gorgeous. This entire piece contains lovely thoughts, Leanne. Thank you for sharing! Actually, I have been mulling about the flower moon recently, though its secrets continue to elude me.
Yes, my teacher said that Forsythia was perfect for the lunar new year! And I looked it up and the bright yellow probably is one of the reasons and I also read that the plant is used in Chinese medicine and it’s very healing! Thank you so much for reading. I was wondering if this post would be a little esoteric and not interesting to people! But I found all of the concepts for ancient Chinese to be really interesting !! People often talk about haiku has been something that stripped away of all preconceived notions And you just stand in front of the world and let the present moment emerge. Even my beloved Jane Hirshfield says as much in her book 10 windows… But I actually really don’t think that’s accurate because all premodern poetry in Japan really exists through the prism of the canon — it is a conversation with the moment but also with the tradition❤️
I'm so glad you appreciate this. From what you've written, I imagine that the prism of the canon respects the communitarian social order i.e. because we are all discreetly connected each to the other, the poem's language (pillow words, for example)reflects our shared existence. The pivot words place the particular observer here as the witness to the moment -- qualities of rhythm and image to create the pivot, eh? You should really write more of what you've discussed. It is so crucial to the work. What really distinguishes it.
My original post was very very much and the spirit of what you just wrote above. I didn’t talk about Pivot, but I talked about pillow words, kigo, kago and meisho. I think it is a conversation with the community, but it’s also a much larger community that goes back in time 1000 years or more and connect people as far away as China. It’s definitely not detached …. I think this could be in one sense, a big difference from contemporary haiku written in English, which feels much more personal. And I really like how you said that it reflects a shared experience as well as a shared existence! It’s really interesting!
Yes, the time frame reaching back is so important. I'm glad you emphasize this.
More pieces like this, we spend our lives just scraping the surface.
Just wanted to post a link to this essay for all the people on here who think about translation:
https://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2025-02/is-that-a-familiar-feeling-harvey/
Mandi, thank you so much for sharing that essay—I really enjoyed it!!!!
Thank you for this writing and introducing a Chinese perspective to haiku and Japanese aesthetics. I really feel the emergence of a greater appreciation and understanding of the Asian creative instinct. You are certainly a channel for that. 💫🙏💫
I really appreciate this so much. Thank you SO MUCH for reading and commenting!!
I loved that, thank you for the book and the explanation. You've given a lot to explore, thank you! 🙏
Thank you so much for leaving a comment and for reading!!!!
Wonderful piece and beautiful ikebana, Leanne! ❤️I also appreciate your book recommendation on Basho and the Tao. By the way, thanks for recommending ‘In the Footsteps of Du Fu’ which I read with pleasure on my way to Chongqing, gateway to the Three Gorges where Du Fu composed many of his masterpieces.
I have enjoyed reading about your travels so much. My dream is to visit Chongqing. It has been a dream since I was young... it sounds like you had a wonderful trip!!!! Thank you so much for reading this post. I was so happy when I saw your comment xo
Wishing you dreams come true! 😊You write beautifully, with depth and substance. If you are ever in Kyoto, I would love to meet so please reach out.
Wonderful words and your ikebana is beautiful 🙏🏻
Thank you so much, Frankie!!!! I really appreciate you reading and commenting!!
What are the kanji for “shoyuukan”?
Sorry, “shoyukan”?
Sorry, I don’t have any of the logistic marks. It’s just too much trouble for me. I’m on my phone right now too, but the characters are the exact same. That’s just the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese characters that you see if I made any mistakes please tell me it’s very very possible. I have careless mistakes in there, also a friend on Facebook that I think is quite a talented scholar feels that The author of this book is one of the most important academics working in literary today. I do think coming from a Chinese background with a solid understanding of classical puts her in a really, really really good place to talk about basho … I’m dictating this on my phone. I hope there’s not too many terrible mistakes.
It looks like it should be shōyōyū, but there could be other conventions in play. Anyway, the first time I’ve seen it, I think (or else I’ve seen it but completely forgotten about it.
Thank you!!! My mistake!!! Will try and fix it in the original post.