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4th out of 20 books
—
11 voters
Japanese Death Poems: Written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the Verge of Death
Although the consciousness of death is in most cultures very much a part of life, this is perhaps nowhere more true than in Japan, where the approach of death has given rise to a centuries-old tradition of writing jisei, or the "death poem" written in the very last moments of the poet's life. From passionate samurai writins and meditative Zen haiku to the satirical poems o...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
April 15th 1998
by Tuttle Publishing
(first published December 15th 1989)
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Coming, all is clear, no doubt about it.
Going, all is clear, without a doubt.
What, then, is it all?
- Hosshin
Empty-handed I entered the world
Barefoot I leave it.
My coming, my going-
Two simple happenings
That got entangled.
- Kozan Ichikyo
Life is like a cloud of mist
Emerging from a mountain cave
And death
A floating moon
In its celestial course.
If you think too much
About the meaning they may have
You'll be bound forever
Like an ass to a stake.
- Mumon Gensen
Young bride
Be alive till they say to you
Die!...more
Going, all is clear, without a doubt.
What, then, is it all?
- Hosshin
Empty-handed I entered the world
Barefoot I leave it.
My coming, my going-
Two simple happenings
That got entangled.
- Kozan Ichikyo
Life is like a cloud of mist
Emerging from a mountain cave
And death
A floating moon
In its celestial course.
If you think too much
About the meaning they may have
You'll be bound forever
Like an ass to a stake.
- Mumon Gensen
Young bride
Be alive till they say to you
Die!...more
2 likes · like · see review
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(This is my favorite poetry collection, eclipsing even Uncle Shelby. Yes, they are different in style and purpose, but the vessel is the same.)
More than a book of tanka, Hoffman's collection informs the reader about both the writers of the poems and the philosophical world they inhabit. (Since they are overwhelmingly Zen, I'll stick with the present tense.) JDP begins with an overview of the wide variety of Zen poetry and the Zen understanding of enlightenment. This includes examples from both f...more
More than a book of tanka, Hoffman's collection informs the reader about both the writers of the poems and the philosophical world they inhabit. (Since they are overwhelmingly Zen, I'll stick with the present tense.) JDP begins with an overview of the wide variety of Zen poetry and the Zen understanding of enlightenment. This includes examples from both f...more
4.5/5 stars
The book is exactly what it sounds like; a thorough study of the traditional Japanese practice of composing a 'death poem' (which the author Yoel Hoffmann points out is different than a 'final poem') in the last hours of one's life. The book has a short introduction and history of the act of death poems going back to pre-medieval Japan and continuing through the early part of the twentieth century. He looks at the practices of monks and samurai before beginning the bulk of the text.
M...more
The book is exactly what it sounds like; a thorough study of the traditional Japanese practice of composing a 'death poem' (which the author Yoel Hoffmann points out is different than a 'final poem') in the last hours of one's life. The book has a short introduction and history of the act of death poems going back to pre-medieval Japan and continuing through the early part of the twentieth century. He looks at the practices of monks and samurai before beginning the bulk of the text.
M...more
I'm reading this piece by piece, as would anyone of sound mind and body. So far, really amazing poems, and an intro that's a good review of tanka and haiku. This is a long-term read, and I don't expect to ever exhaust its contents. I picked it up in Manzanita, Oregon, at the fabulous, great and quirky Cloud and Leaf bookstore. If you're ever in Manzatina, go to the Cloud and Leaf and spend lots of money. Definition of a great book store: always a surprise waiting on one or more of the shelves.
Gr...more
Gr...more
This is a very interesting book involving the origination of the jisei, or death poems of Japan. Hoffmann explains generally the history of poetry in Japan, and how the jisei developed. He then goes on to provide many examples of jisei -- some of them very old -- with explanations. A very good read if you're interested in Japanese culture, history, and art. Also a good read for those interested in the cultural aspects of Zen Buddhism.
This book is an excellent collection of Japanese poetry. It begins with a very clear discussion of the evolution of Japanese poetry and jisei (Death Poetry). It then has an excellent selection of actual poems with discussions of the authors and the folklore that exists around them. If you enjoy the simple beauty of Japanese poetry, I highly recommend this book.
A nice overview of both zen monks and haiku writers' death poems. Many of the so-called "death poems" are not very memorable. Other ones will make you want to search out other writings. Give it a try. You will not be disappointed!
Beautiful and calming at times -- at others frustrating.
I'd have to agree that the biggest thing that plagues this collection of poetry is the ridiculous amount of prose Hoffman lays on the reader in regards to each poem. Then the poems I really loved had no additional info at all...
The thing about poems is they mean different things to each reader, and the prescriptive nature of Hoffman's comments, that is, telling us how to feel detracted from the poetry.
The introduction would have sufficed.
Wi...more
I'd have to agree that the biggest thing that plagues this collection of poetry is the ridiculous amount of prose Hoffman lays on the reader in regards to each poem. Then the poems I really loved had no additional info at all...
The thing about poems is they mean different things to each reader, and the prescriptive nature of Hoffman's comments, that is, telling us how to feel detracted from the poetry.
The introduction would have sufficed.
Wi...more
An inspiring book. Japanese haiku poets have a tradition of writing a haiku on their death bed. This book has collected many of these haiku.
Great... but I really thought the addition of Kanji where appropriate would have put it over the top.
Truly, this is a great book of poetry. Every student of East Asian culture should obtain a copy!
Given to me with love by my best friend and little bother inscribed "Read, learn emulate"
Good prose bu the commentary was a bit much and detracted from the form of the haiku.
Very inspiring. Especially since death is my favourite topic to read.
Lovely. Recommended for lovers of zen poetry or Taoism, lovers of Basho.
Urgent and beautiful. Loved it.
This book is full of poems about death or written just before someone's death. Sometimes they are funny or witty, some grim and solemn, but they are all interesting. Make sure you read the introduction, it explains the practice and the context as well as form and style differences between the poems. These poems are brief (many of them Haiku) and I tend to like longer poems. But that is a personal preference. This book is a good gateway to reflecting upon a topic we might be hesitant to reflect o...more
Beauty in simplicity
Prior to this book, like many (most?) haiku fans, I was pretty much only familiar with works of Basho and Issa. This book does a nice job of changing that. With ~350 haikus, this is a decent size, but not an overwhelming, collection. Though some people may find the subject morbid, I thought there was much beauty in the last words of these poets.
If you like haiku and Japanese poetry in general, or Zen Buddhism, or death, or life, you will probably like this book. The poems come in many shapes and sizes, though some form of haiku is most prominent, and death is dealt with in every conceivable way - passion, rage, humor, despair, acceptance, and so on.
First read this a couple years ago, and since then I regularly pick it up. The history of Death Poetry is fascinating--do not skip the Introduction! The tanka form, for me, is particularly addictive.
1 like · like · see review
This is a book that should be read for anyone interested in traditional Japanese martial arts. It serves as a great reference when learning more about the concepts behind traditional teachings.
helped me to understand that the body is a storehouse with the intellegent capacity of everything possible in the universe.... and learning lies in coming to peace with our imperminance in it.
I had to put this one down halfway through, as the haiku poems were getting repetitive, despite their varied authors. The commentary on the zen death poems was valuable and interesting.
Really interesting. I usually stick with Brit lit and Am. lit, but glad I made an exception for this. I loved the selection, and the explenations that came with some of the poems.
Where did that dog
that used to be here go?
I thought about him
once again tonight
before I went to bed.
Shimaki Akahiko
(1876 - 1926)
Only one complaint: I wish more of the poems were accompanied by their original Japanese text. Still though, damn fine!
The leaves turned red
And the wind blew them
away.
And the wind blew them
away.
Aug 31, 2007
Maria
added it
هايكوهاي زيبايي داشت.
Spare and beautiful.
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