Earth Day - three poems by Saigyō

 Happy Earth Day!

Today I would like to share three of my favorite poems by the legendary Japanese poet Saigyō. Though usually portrayed in a romantic way, Saigyō's life was far from peaceful and carefree. He lived in the 12th century Japan - a turbulent period of time in which numerous civil wars were fought for dominance of the country. Saigyō was born into a warrior clan and spent much of his early life training in martial arts and combat. He was employed as a warrior in the service of the emperor, and was responsible for many civil and political duties. Despite this, in his early 20's, Saigyō made the choice to leave the civilized world and become a reclusive monk. During this period of time he made frequent journeys throughout the country and lived for long periods of times isolated in the mountains and forests. Saigyō saw the transient nature of life and captured this mindset in his poetry. His love of nature and Buddhism made his poems eternal, and he was the inspiration for many of Japan's most famous poets.

Saigyō's poems are mainly written in the Tanka ("short poem") style of the more general Waka form. This style consists of 5-line poems with a syllable count of 5-7-5-7-7. These short poems, in their simplicity and power, were thought to best capture the essence of the Zen mindset.

...

Since the "real world" seems

My cherry tree in bloom

to be less than truly real,
why need I suppose
the world of dreams is nothing
other than a world of dreams?

...

An ancient field
and in the sole tree starkly
rising to its side
sits a dove, calling to its mate:
the awesome nightfall.

...

When stung by the world,
man's tears spill drop by drop
like the cherry tree
whose petals scatter down when
whipped by cold winds.

Saigyō

Spring Equinox

Today is the first day of Spring, and also the beginning of my blog. My plan for this blog is to post some of my favorite poems from China and Japan, in order to share these beautiful verses with the world. I think that poems, like all art, should be read and experienced by each person individually, so I will not provide an in-depth analysis about each verse. Instead, I will try to limit my comments to a short passage providing either background information about the poet, or a description of obvious symbolism.

I have been reading Eastern poetry for several years now and have accumulated a sizable collection of works. My interest started with the writings of Buddhist monks, in a little book I picked up called "The Poetry of Zen". I was moved by how these humble people were able to capture the essence of their spirituality and philosophy through very short verses. Many of the Japanese poets in this blog were either Zen Buddhists or were inspired by them in some way or another. The Chinese poets were motivated by Taoist and Confucian principles, which were also heavily influenced by Ch'an (Zen). Thus, all Eastern poets share this one fundamental principle: capturing the essence of Zen mind.

Out of all the poets I've read my favorites include: Li Po, Ryōkan, Saigyō, Bashō, Chia Tao, Issa, Hanshan, Tu Fu, Buson, Wang Wei, Li Shang-yin, Meng Chiao, Han Yü, Po Chu-i, Ki no Tsurayuki and many others.

The first poem I'll start with comes from the legendary Li Po (or Li Bai), who lived 1200 years ago in the Tang dynasty of China. This period was a highpoint in Chinese cultural history, widely regarded as a Golden Age for artists and scholars. During this time, Li Po wandered the countryside living a detached, carefree existence. He was known as the "Banished Immortal" during his time, due mostly to his rejection of social norms, which frequently got him in trouble. Instead, he preferred to wander the mountains and rivers of China, drinking heavily and scribbling poems. He later became known as one of the "Eight immortals of the wine cup" - a group of Tang dynasty poets known for their excessive drinking. The verses of Li Po perfectly express the freedom with which he lived his life, and they are among my favorite from any poet. Here is one in particular that is appropriate for the Spring Equinox.


Waking from drunkenness on a Spring day

Life in the world is but a big dream,
I will not spoil it by any labor or care.
So saying, I was drunk all day,
A shambles of sleep on the front porch.
Coming to, I look into the courtyard.
A lonely bird is singing amid the blossoms,
And when I ask what season this is,
An oriole's voice drifts on Spring winds.
Moved by its song I soon begin to sigh,
And as wine is there I fill my own cup.
Wildly singing, I await the bright moon,
And when the song is over, all my senses are gone.

Li Po