Four Japanese Haiku Basho, Joso, Chiyo, Shiki The Haiku A haiku is a three-line poem, usually about nature, but often with a suggestion of a deeper meaning.  The form of the traditional haiku, as established by Basho and other early haiku composers, requires seventeen syllables – five on the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.  In the original Japanese the four haiku presented here follow this traditional form.   The haiku is native to Japan.  Most haiku use vivid but fleeting images to sketch a scene or an incident that usually involves the world of nature but also says something about human experience.  For example, a haiku may comment on the human response to nature or use images from nature to express ideas about people. Four Japanese Haiku Poets Japan Basho (1644-1694) is generally regarded as the greatest of Japan’s classical haiku poets.  Widely respected in his own lifetime, Basho started a school of Haiku poetry in the city of Edo, now Tokyo, Japan’s capital.  Among his ten star pupils – sometimes known as the Ten Philosophers – was Joso (1661-1704).  Chiyo (1703-1775), born a few decades later, is considered the most important of the many woman poets who wrote during this classical age of haiku poetry.  Representing Japan’s more recent haiku composers is Shiki (1867-1902), who published jaiku in his monthly magazine Hototogisu (“The Cuckoo”) Translated from the Japanese By Harold G. Henderson and David ray Autumn On a withered branch    a crow has settled –        autumn nightfall. --Basho,  tr. Henderson Winter Mountains and plains,    all are captured by the snow –         nothing remains. --Joso,  tr. Henderson After a Long Winter After a long winter, giving     each other nothing, we collide          with blossoms in our hands. --Chiyo,  tr. Ray Heat The summer river:     although there is a bridge, my horse          goes through the water. --Shiki,  tr. Henderson STUDY QUESTIONS The Lines, Literal 1.      On what kind of branch does the crow settle in “Autumn”? 2.      In “Winter,” what remains after mountains and plains are “captured” by the snow? 3.      In Chiyo’s haiku, what do the speaker and her companion have in their hands when they collide” after a long winter”? 4.      In “Heat,” what does the speaker’s horse do “although there is a bridge”? Between the Lines; Interpreting 5.      In Basho’s haiku, why are the words “withered” and “nightfall” especially appropriate?  What mood do they help create?  Which words in Joso’s haiku help achieve a similar mood? 6.      What seasonal change is represented in Chiyo’s haiku?  Does her poem also depict a changing human relationship?  Explain. 7.      What season is represented in Shiki’s haiku?  Why does the horse (or it’s rider) do what it does? Beyond the Lines; Synthesize 8.      Using images to represent the four seasons, write four haiku that represent four seasons of your life, in regard to your school experience. a.      The end of the school year last year. Spring b.      The beginning of this new school year.  Summer c.      End of the first quarter.  Fall d.      End of the first semester. Winter 9.  How does the rigid structure of a Japanese haiku provide some insight into Japan's economic success?