Books › The Japanese haiku
The Japanese haiku
its essential nature, history, and possibilities in English, with selected examples.
First published 1957 · 321 pages
A thoughtful, cross-cultural exploration of poetic beauty that bridges Eastern and Western literary traditions.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting in a quiet, sunlit study, engaged in a deep conversation about the mechanics of beauty. It moves at a steady, contemplative pace, offering lucid commentary that bridges the gap between Japanese poetic traditions and Western literary thought. The mood is deeply reflective and intellectual, inviting the reader to pause and savor both the analytical prose and the delicate examples of translated verse. It is an experience of cross-cultural illumination, contrasting Eastern thinkers with Occidental philosophers to reveal the universal nature of poetic expression. This thoughtful exploration will delight students of poetry, translators, and anyone who finds joy in the subtle, concise beauty of the haiku form.
- Mood
- contemplative
- intellectual
- reflective
- serene
- Tone
- scholarly
- lucid
- thoughtful
- appreciative
- informative
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- cross-cultural literary analysis · the nature of poetic expression · translation and adaptation · the evolution of poetic forms
- The writing
- Lucid and analytical, balancing scholarly commentary with the delicate beauty of translated verse.
- The arc
- A journey from intellectual curiosity to a deepened, cross-cultural appreciation of poetic beauty.
- Who it's for
- Students of poetry, literature enthusiasts, and general readers fascinated by Japanese culture and the mechanics of translation.
About the book
"Here for the first time in English the subtle nature and beauty of the haiku is revealed in lucid commentary that emphasizes its rightful place in the realm of poetry....Informative discussion and carefully selected examples, along with quotations from Japanese thinkers and poets contrasted with those of Occidental poets, critics, and philosophers--T.S. Eliot, Allen Tate, John Dewey, Benedetto Croce, to name but a few--illuminate the fascinating character of the Japanese poetic mind and its vital contribution to the poetic tradition of the world. Intriguing analyses of the possibilities of the haiku for poetic expression in English and a concise, informative history of the development of haiku will interest both the general reader and the student of poetry and Japanese culture as well. Richly illustrative are modern original haiku in English and many superb translations of well-known Japanese originals."--Page 2-3 of cover
Description from Open Library.
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