Kyoto: The Forest Within the Gate

by Edith Shiffert, John Einarsen

Poetry. Art. This book of haiku and photographs was conceived as a gift for poet Edith Shiffert on entering her ninety-first year. Shiffert has lived in Kyoto, Japan since 1963. She is the author of twelve collections of poetry, and has co-translated several volumes of Japanese poetry. Photographer John Einarsen, whose black-and-white images of Kyoto appear here paired with Shiffert's haiku, is the founding editor of Kyoto Journal. He writes in the preface: "Edith's writings, which contain Buddhist and Taoist sensibilities, yet remain totally individualistic, have taught me over the years to see Kyoto, nature, and existence from a new and profound perspective...I suspect that her poems and my photographs were essentially approached in a similar way: mostly by walking, with little or no purpose in mind, and simply recording impressions just as they were encountered."

Genres: Japan, Travel

Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Catherine Pawasarat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful images, poems, prose, calligraphy by a team of very talented artists and writers who've lived in Kyoto and studied Japanese culture long term. Sometimes I wonder whether our tributes to the world-class city of Kyoto can be overly sublimated, as though the city is nothing but heavenly. When in Kyoto, the heavenly parts are counterpoised by qualities that are less so (sometimes much less), as surely it's always been. It seems to me that the art of appreciating Kyoto is to find the middle way between the two extremes. Regardless, this book was an enjoyable and uplifting read, and visually exquisite.

[Kasey Mazak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful tapestry of pictures and poems. I love this Haiku:

Fragrance of incense
by Yoshidayama’s graves,
pine needles sprkle.

(松冴える線香かほり吉田山)