Japanese have refined the art of using minimalism for maximum effect, a style that captures the elegance of simplicity. By steadfastly removing everything superfluous, you can uncover the concentrated beauty of the object’s essence. You see this in ink drawings, flower arrangements, Zen rock gardens, and, of course, haiku poetry.
Haiku (both singular and plural in Japanese) is a minimalist Japanese poem consisting of 17 syllables. It has its roots in collaborative poetry-writing style dating from many hundreds of years ago. In its initial form, the first person would write a 17 syllable verse, and another would respond with a verse of 14 syllables.
Sometimes a group would amuse themselves with this lighthearted game after a more serious poetry contest. Each person added a stanza that would take the poem in a new direction while being very loosely linked with the previous one. This activity would generally continue, alternating between 17 and 14 stanzas until 100, 1,000, or 10,000 verses had been completed.
The initial, or “sending,” verse was particularly significant as it would establish the season and the tone for the remaining verses. Eventually, it was seen as strong enough to stand on its own, and this single verse was ultimately called haiku.
One characteristic of haiku is that it is usually a sentence and a phrase. This break between complete and incomplete, allows the imagination to fill in the image and creates a sense of sudden illumination.
A fallen blossom
is returning to the branch!
ah, a butterfly.
Moritake (1473-1549)
The morning glory
has captured my well bucket.
i will beg water
Chiyojo (1703-1775)
Old pond
a frog leaps in
water’s sound
the first dream of the year —
I keep it a secret
and smile to myself
Matsuo Bashoo (1644-1694)
New year’s morning:
the ducks on the pond
quack and quack.
Don’t worry, spiders,
I keep house
casually.
New year’s day—
everything is in blossom!
I feel about average.
The snow is melting
and the village is flooded
with children.
Mosquito at my ear—
does he think
I’m deaf?
Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827)
by Diana Rowland, author Japanese Business: Rules of Engagement
