Showing posts with label Spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spring. Show all posts

1/15/2008

Garlic chives (nira)

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- - - - - for Egawa Tarozaemon, see below
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Garlic chives, Chinese chives (nira)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Plant


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Explanation


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chives, nira 韮 (にら), kamira かみら (加美良)、
mira みら (弥良)、"two letters" futamoji ふたもじ
Allium tuberosum, Garlic chives
kigo for mid-spring

often translated as LEEK, but that is a different plant.
In the Japanese saijiki, Garlic comes next after nira chives.


Allium tuberosum LINKS


The Japanese name of "futamoji" goes way back to the Heian period. The aristocracy wrote the name of the leek 葱 like this “ギ”(one letter). The more complex character for the chives, 韮 was then called "two letters".


KAMIRA 加美良(かみら) dates back to the historical chronicles of the Kojiki.
KUKUMIRA 久々美良(くくみら) is an old reading of the poetry collection Manyo-Shu.
The M from the older reading of MIRA later changed to an N.


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flowers of the chives, nira no hana
韮の花 (にらのはな)

ninniku no hana 蒜の花 (にんにくのはな) garlic flowers
kigo for late summer

nobiru no hana 野蒜の花 (のびるのはな) Nobiru flowers
kigo for early summer


There is also a kind of yellow garlic chives, 黄ニラ.
This is a speciality of Okayama prefecture.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Yellow garlic chives for the Momotaro pot Okayama


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CLICK for original LINK ... himakichi sanpo
不許葷酒入山門

くんしゅさんもんはいるべからず
kunshuu sanmon hairu bekarazu
葷酒山門に入るを許さず
kunshuu sanmon ni iru o yurusazu

Garlic chives and liquor are not allowed
into the monastery.

 KUN refers to garlic chives and garlic.

These words are engraved in stone beside the entrance of a Buddhist monastery. This stone is also called kekkai seki 結界石(けっかいせき) "stone that separates the normal world from the Buddhist world".
Some temples called the hot ricewine
"hot water of wisdom" hannyatoo 「般若湯(はんにゃとう)」
or "water of wisdom" chie no mizu 「智慧の水」.


葷酒山門にいるを許さず紅葉哉
kunshu sanmon ni iru o yurusazu momiji kana

no garlic and wine
beyond the temple gate ...
red autumn leaves

Terada Torahiko 寺田寅彦 (November 28, 1878 - December 31, 1935)
source : jofuan/myhaiku


Daruma Museum
More about 葷酒山門 kunshu sanmon

Temple Gate, no garlic or liquor beyond this point!


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Nira chives are a favorite ingredient in Chinese food. Here in Japan, it comes in miso soup, on scrambled eggs or in gyosa dumplings and many other preparations.

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japanesefood.about.com: Nira (chives)


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


"Chives Mountain", Nirayama 韮山, is a town in Izu peninsula.

During the Edo period, the famous reformer Egawa Tarozaemon
江川太郎左衛門 (1801-1855) lived here.

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A scholar of warfare and a civil administrator. As his family members had been for generations, Tarozaemon was the successive governor of Izunokuni Nirayama. Tarozaemon was familiar with the conditions of the people from the time he was appointed governor of Izunokuni Nirayama. He was an honest worker who listened to the views of the agricultural policy administrator and thinker, Sontoku Ninomiya, and was called “Edo’s God of Social Reform.”

After becoming conscious of naval defenses, he learned artillery from Kazan Watanabe and Western artillery from Shuhan Takashima and served as a professor of artillery. Tarozaemon got on the wrong side of Yozo Torii, the Edo Magistrate who disliked Western studies, and nearly fell from power in the bribery case of Bansha, but he was rescued by Tadakuni Mizuno, was later promoted by the top leaders of the shogunate government, and built six gun batteries. He devoted himself throughout his life to naval defense, building foundries and air furnaces in Nirayama and producing canons and guns. He is also known as Hidetatsu Egawa.

Torazaemon baked hardtack as ready-to-eat food for soldiers following the method taught by a student of Shuhan Takashima, and the Japan Bread Association called him the “Father of Bread” of Japan.
© 2006 MINATO CITY. Tarozaemon Egawa

pan no hi パンの日 day of bread - April 12
When the first bread was baked in the home of Egawa family 太郎左衛門 near Nirayama, Izu 韮山, in 1840.
It was very hard and durable, as food provisions for the soldiers, and called
hyooroo pan 兵糧パン.
It was baked in oil in a huge iron pan in the main kitchen of the large Egawa estate. The Egawa family is now in the 42th generation.
The Chinese Opium War has just started and Japan was afraid foreighn soldiers might come to Japan too. So the nation prepared for war.
The Egawa family also build small cannons to defend their harbour in Izu.
More in the WIKIPEDIA !



His soldiers used a special kind of light helmet called the "Nirayama Helmets, nirayama gasa 韮山笠".

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They were like circles, folded in half, made from leather or twisted paper strings (koyori 紙縒り). The paper was then covered with laquer or sometimes light leather. Some troups of the Bakufu government, especially soldiers from Aizu, Nagaoka and Shonai, used these helmets.
They were not produced in large numbers and not many remain to our day.



 © PHOTO : www.wbr.co.jp


Japanese Reference
韮山笠でっす


Egawachoo 江川町 Egawa Cho District
Chiyoda ward, Higashi Kanda 東神田一丁目
This district was founded in 1706 and is rather small. It was named after Egawa Tarozaemon, who lived here.
The Egawa clan came from Nirayama, Izu.

. Place names of Edo .


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- quote
Ninomiya Sontoku 二宮尊徳
(September 4, 1787 – November 17, 1856), born Ninomiya Kinjirō (二宮 金次郎) Kinjiro, was a prominent 19th-century Japanese agricultural leader, philosopher, moralist and economist.
. . . Though he did not leave written philosophical work, his idea were later transcribed by his disciples, namely Tomita Takayoshi, Fukuzumi Masae and Saitō Takayuki. Ninomiya combined three strands of traditional teachings Buddhism, Shintōism and Confucianism and transformed them into practical ethical principles which matured out of his experiences. He saw agriculture as the highest form of humanity because it was the cultivation of resources given by the Kami.

Ninomiya Sontoku emphasized the importance of compound interest which was not well understood among samurai and peasants. He calculated the maturity of each interest rate for 100 years to show its significance by using the Japanese abacus or soroban. In terms of agriculture, he viewed agricultural village life as communal, where surpluses from one year were invested to develop further land or saved for worse years, and shared by members of the community. He was aware that developed land had a lower tax base than established agricultural land and he was adept at financial management which he applied to his estate. He also encouraged immigrants from other estates and rewarded them if they successfully established an agricultural household.
He started his own financial institutions called gojoukou  - gojookoo (五常講 ごじょうこう), which appear to be a forerunner of credit union. Each member of the village union could borrow funds interest free for 100 days, while the entire membership shared the cost in case of default. Combination of land development, immigration and communal finance all managed under diligent utilisation of abacus was a success and became the standard methodology of economic development in feudal Japan.



It is not uncommon to see statues of Ninomiya in or in front of Japanese schools, especially elementary schools. Typically these statues show him as a boy reading a book while walking and carrying firewood on his back. These statues are depicting popular stories that said Ninomiya was reading and studying during every moment he could.
© More in the WIKIPEDIA !

- His statue at temple
. Buppoo-Ji 仏法寺Buppo-Ji .
Mimasaka, Okayama 美作市川北




source : www.naritasan.or.jp

He practised danjiki shugyoo 断食修行 fasting at temple Narita san in Chiba for 21 days and then went on to help the farmers in need.

- quote
Ninomiya s plans had been fairly successful, but
the work was very slow. Feeling somewhat
discouraged, he decided to appeal to Heaven for
help. Some hold that Ninomiya was sincere in
this action, and that he really felt his dependence
upon some power higher than himself ; others held
that his action was purely spectacular, that he
wished to win the people by an appeal to their
religious and superstitious nature. But whatever
his motive may have been, he went to the Buddhist
temple at Narita to pray for the success of his work.
He secured lodging at the inn, and was daily in
the attitude of worship before the god, fasting and
bathing in cold water. He made several short
prayers, and some definite vows before the god.

He prayed that calamity, including death, disease,
accident, and debt, might be replaced by blessing,
prosperity, and happiness. He prayed that
deserted wastes and barren soil might give
place to well-cultivated plains and rich,
productive farm lands; that poverty, tribulation, and
hardness might be replaced by wealth and joy, and
by all that was for the good of the people. He
vowed that he would renounce everything that was
detrimental to human development, and that he
would endeavor to give them everything that would
tend to make their lives truly blessed.
He continued thus for twenty-one days. The priest
afterward said that he admired Ninomiya s un
selfish spirit. Instead of praying for his own selfish
benefit, as others did, he prayed for the people.

Ninomiya had gone to Narita 1 secretly. Not
even the officials knew his whereabouts. They
became alarmed at his continued absence, and sent
a messenger in search of him. The first clew they
received was from a messenger of the hotel where
Ninomiya was lodging. It seemed that for some
reason, after Ninomiya had paid a sum of money
in advance, on his lodging account, the landlord
became very suspicious of him.
He was not reassured
even when told that Ninomiya was a
samurai of the Odawara clan, but, pleading that
his house was overcrowded, tried to send him away.

Ninomiya was indignant, and thundered out: "Why
did you not refuse me when I first entered your
hotel ? Has your house suddenly become full ?
I have come here to worship at this temple for the
good of others. What reason have you to be
suspicious of me? Let your suspicions cease."
The landlord, frightened, became very humble, and
apologized for his conduct. However, he secretly
sent a messenger to Odawara to inquire about this
strange man, who had come to pray for others.

The Odawara men did not know why he had gone
to Narita, but they assured the messenger that he
was one of their trusted clansmen. After this he
was the guest of honor in the little hotel. As
soon as the people of Sakuramachi knew where
Ninomiya had gone, they gathered together for
consultation. They were alarmed lest he in
tended to desert them, so they decided to send
a messenger, urging his return, promising to obey
his every word, and to be more diligent in future
than they had been in the past. The messenger
arrived on the last day of the fast, and as soon
as Ninomiya had heard their message, he ate a
bowl of rice, and set out for Sakuramachi, running
all the way. He arrived there that evening.

The people were surprised that, after such a long fast,
he was able to run fifty miles. They knew he had
been praying for them, and were so impressed by it
that they regarded him with the same awe and
reverence that they felt toward the gods.
Fromthat time Ninomiya s work prospered.

1 Even yet Narita shrine is popular. The God "Fudo Myo" was Ninomiya s favorite. It was a man standing unmoved in the midst of fire with a drawn sword in his right hand to cut out evil and a rope in his left hand to bind it up. The ancient soldier sometimes wore it on his armor as he went to battle. It represents that spirit in the Japanese people that enabled them to defeat the Russian armies every time. Psychologically this idol has had a great place in making Japanese people what they are, strong and courageous.

NINOMIYA AND YOUNG MEN
As Ninomiya s fame increased, he came to Yedo (Edo),
and took up his abode in the house of Utsu, in
Nishikubo. There he gathered disciples and taught
them daily. Naturally he had opponents who
were jealous of his power. They frequently pasted
threats over his gate, to the effect that if any
accepted his teaching their heads would be cut
off, or they would be banished to a far-distant
island, or their houses would be burned. His dis
ciples became very scarce. Some excused them
selves by saying they were busy, others who were
boarding in his house fled home, but he only be
came the more earnest, and his spirit waxed stronger
and stronger.
He hung a picture of "Fudo Myo" in his room,
and pointing to it, said to his disciples,
" Without such a spirit you are useless."

SINCERITY
He believed in being true in heart even under
most trying circumstances. Perhaps no one s lot
can be harder than that of the daughter-in-law,
who is married into her husband s ancestral home.
Speaking of this, he says :
" People like a luxurious and easy life,
and dislike hardship and trial. When
a young bride goes to her husband s home, in summer
she feels like a person sitting on the mats of a
burning house; in winter she feels as if she were
standing out in a cold field. But she is very happy
when she brings her husband to her father s home ;
in summer she feels like one in the refreshing cool
of an ice house ; in winter, like one who draws near
to a burning house. But in any case she must feel
that she has a divine call, and that she must obey
that call, and accept her adopted home as her true
home. She may have to endure suffering, but she
must not swerve from the path of duty, but remain
as firm as Fudo san
. If she has a true heart, she
will work with all her might, as the farmer works
in heat or cold, and as the samurai endures the
hardships of the battle-field."


HIS APPEAL TO RELIGION
WHEN Ninomiya attempted to improve the moral
condition of the people, he found that moral suasion
alone was powerless to accomplish his ends. Excellent
as his teaching was, he felt that Sakuramachi
was not responding to his efforts. This led him to
turn to religion. He suddenly left his work and
ceased teaching and spent nearly three weeks in
earnest fasting and prayer before the idol of Narita.
Here he received great inspiration. His prayer was
answered. The people rallied around him, and as a
result a complete change took place in the conditions
of the country around Sakuramachi. When famine
broke out a few years later, he was able to open up
his stores and not only feed the people of his
master s estate, but was able to help the neighboring
estate in which the people were suffering.

Ninomiya gives us a key to interpret idol worship
in Japan. He pointed to the god "Fudo Myo"
and said to his disciples, "Without such a spirit
you are useless." A Buddhist priest in a sermon
gave an illustration that gives us some light on the
nature of their idol. A band of soldiers was arrested
and thrown into prison by the Tokugawa government
in the stormy times immediately preceding
the revolution of 1868. They became very angry,
especially as they thought they were treated unjustly.

When the jailer was passing in food
through the little window of their cell, they seized
his hand and maltreated it. In their company was
one boy who was very quiet, dignified, and obedient.
It was noticed that every morning and evening he
took out two little dolls and, placing them before
him, reverently greeted them, saying,
"Good morning, Mother," "Good morning, Father."

At mealtime he again bowed before them and expressed
the gratitude he felt to his parents for the food he
ate. This was repeated so often that the others be
gan to respect him for his filial piety and connected
his constant good conduct with the influence of these
dolls, which were used to keep his parents ever
before his mind. Commenting on this incident,
the Buddhist preacher said, "We need dolls to
act as flying machines to enable our hearts to
soar to the place where dwells the true father of
us all, to the presence of the Buddha. We need
not trouble ourselves about the material used in
making these images. Half an inch of decayed
wood, a sheet of old paper, a lump of clay, a block of
metal, anything will do so long as it is a symbolical
representation and prevents our forgetful hearts
from becoming oblivious of the Tathagata.
Before these symbols we bow down, and in doing so our
hearts are lifted up in thought to the great heart of
the Tathagata."

- source : archive.org/stream


He thought of himself as Fudo Myo-O
金治郎は自身を不動明王と見ていた
When he sat in his mountain retreat, pondering some morning mist, he felt it was like the flames in the halo of Fudo Myo-O.
「俺も、不動明王だ」

. Fudō Myō-ō, Fudoo Myoo-Oo 不動明王 Fudo Myo-O
Acala Vidyârâja - Vidyaraja - Fudo Myoo .



- reference -

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HAIKU


久々の母子の会話韮の花
hisabisa no oyako no kaiwa nira no hana

I talk to my child
after quite a while ...
chive blossoms

Yamano Ibuki 山野いぶき
Tr. Gabi Greve

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chive flowers
purple blossoms top
pungent stalks


Robert Hunt, 2009
Happy Haiku Forum



. WASHOKU
More NIRA haiku



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Related words

***** Welch Onion Head (negi boozu)
and
Stone Leek (negi 葱), Welch Onion, Green Onion, Chinese Onion, Spring Onion

*** Ninniku ニンニク 大蒜 Garlic


WASHOKU : YASAI . Vegetable SAIJIKI



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11/24/2007

Verbs used in Kigo

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Verbs used in Kigo

Should verbs be used in haiku?
A question I am asked frequently.


Read the general answers here please:

Verbs used in Haiku

. Negative Verb Forms and Haiku .



Here I collect some SPRING kigo with verbs. I use translation with
DOING xyz.
It depends on the haiku wheater it will be translated as
"I do", "We do" or someone else does.


Look at the ABC index for further explanations of these kigo, many concerning plants or animals.

Gabi Greve


For verbs used in other seasons, see below.
For WRITE, WRITING, see below.


Activities in SPRING


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. . . . . SPRING
going through all categories, there are quite a few



cold comes to an end, kan akeru 寒明ける(かんあける)
cold ends, kan owaru 寒終る(かんおわる)
cold passes on, kan sugiru 寒過ぎる(かんすぎる)



"spring stands up", spring begins,
haru tatsu 春立つ(はるたつ)

spring comes, haru kuru 春来る(はるくる)
spring comes closer, haru saru 春さる(はるさる)
SARU here does not mean " to leave 去る"
"it becomes spring", haru ni naru 春になる(はるになる)



cold comes back, sae kaeru 冴返る さえかえる
..... ite kaeru 冱返る(いてかえる)
freezing comes back, shimi kaeru しみ返る(しみかえる)
cold comes back, kan kaeru 寒返る(かんかえる)



february (the second month) comes to an end
nigatsu hatsu 二月果つ(にがつはつ)

..... nigatsu tsuku 二月尽く(にがつつく)
nigatsu owaru 二月終る(にがつおわる)
february goes away, nigatsu yuku 二月逝く(にがつゆく)



march (the third month) comes to an end
sangatsu owaru 三月終る(さんがつおわる)
..... sangatsu tsuku 三月尽く(さんがつつく)



april comes, shigatsu kuru 四月来る(しがつくる)
april ends, shitatsu owaru 四月終る(しがつおわる)
..... shigatsu tsuku四月尽く(しがつつく)



spring is leaving, yuku haru 行く春 (ゆくはる)
seeing spring off, haru o okuru 春を送る(はるをおくる)



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CLICK for more left snow

snow is still left, yuki nokoru 雪残る(ゆきのこる)
snow is melting, yuki tokeru 雪解くる(ゆきとくる)


cold weather gets a bit warmer, ite yurumu 凍ゆるむ(いてゆるむ)


CLICK for more floating ice
ice is floating,koori nagaruru 氷流るる(こおりながるる)


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taking off the hood, 頭巾脱ぐ(ずきんぬぐ)
taking off the overcoat, gaitoo nugu 外套脱ぐ (がいとうぬぐ)
taking off the warm winter underwear, doogi nugu
胴着脱ぐ (どうぎぬぐ)


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preparing herring roe, kazu no ko tsukuru
数の子作る (かずのこつくる)

drying herring roe, kazu no ko hosu
数の子干す(かずのこほす)
kigo for late spring

This is done mostly in march and april.
The roe is first placed in a barrel with saltwater for five days, adding fresh salt water maybe five times every day during this time. This helps to get the roe firm. To get the delicious yellow color, the roe is then washed in fresh water and placed on straw mats to dry. It is turned over many times during the drying process and finally ready for preservation.
The fresh ones are called "new herring roe" shin kazu no ko 新数の子.
In years with a bountiful catch you could see them in all the villages along the coast of Hokkaido.

Nowadays, most of the kazunoko is imported.


Kazu no ko 数の子 (かずのこ) herring roe
kigo for the New Year


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Snow and weather-related work in spring

taking down the snow guards, yukiyoke toru
雪除とる(ゆきよけとる)
taking down the frost guards, shimoyoke toku
霜除解く(しもよけとく)
..... shimogakoi toru 霜囲とる(しもがこいとる)
..... yukigakoi toru 雪囲とる (ゆきがこいとる)
..... yukigaki toku 雪垣解く(ゆきがきとく)
fuyugamae toku 冬構解く(ふゆがまえとく)
..... fuyugakoi toru 冬囲とる(ふゆがこいとる)
yukitsuri toku 雪吊解く(ゆきづりとく)


taking down the wind guards, kazeyoke toku
風除解く かぜよけとく
..... kazegaki toku 風垣解く(かざがきとく)
..... kazegakoi toku 風囲解く(かざがこいとく)


and a few more SNOW kigo at home


yukiwari 雪割 (ゆきわり) "make the snow forget"
by bringing sweets or fruit to a friend in January
mid-spring
yukikiri 雪切(ゆききり), yukihori 雪堀(ゆきほり)
yukikeshi 雪消(ゆきけし)
yukiwari ninpu 雪割人夫(ゆきわりにんぷ)
yukikiri ninpu 雪切人夫(ゆききりにんぷ)

yukikeshi in winter



sori shimau 橇蔵う (そりしまう) packing away the sledge
late spring
sutezori 捨橇(すてぞり
sukii shimau スキーしまう packing away the ski
sukeeto shimau スケートしまうpacking away the skates


kuruma kumu 車組む (くるまくむ) taking out the car
mid-spring
kuruma dasu 車出す(くるまだす)


yanegae 屋根替 (やねがえ) putting on a new roof
mid-spring
yane fuku 屋根葺く(やねふく)
fukikae 葺替(ふきかえ)



kaki tsukurou 垣繕う (かきつくろう) repairing the hedge
mid-sprig
kaki teire 垣手入れ(かきていれ)


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Farm and garden work in spring

burning the withered fields, noyaku 野焼く(のやく)

burning the paths between fields, aze yaku
kusa yaku 草焼く(くさやく)burning the weeds
aze yaku 畦焼く(あぜやく)burning the small path between the fields
azebi 畦火(あぜび)"fire in the small paths"
tsutumi yaku 堤焼く(つつみやく)burning the dikes
oka yaku 丘焼く(おかやく)burning the hills

noyaki 野焼 (のやき)
nobi 野火(のび)
yakeno 焼野(やけの)
yakihara 焼原(やきはら)
ogi no yakehara 荻の焼原(おぎのやけはら)


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yama yaku 山焼く(やまやく) "burning the mountain"
yamayaki 山焼 (やまやき) mountain burning
yamabi 山火(やまび)"fire on the mountain"
Burning the weeds on the mountain slopes to make room for the new green.


observance kigo for the New Year

Nara no yamayaki 奈良の山焼
Burning the Mountain Slopes at Nara

..... Burning the mountains, o-yama yaki お山焼(おやまやき)


It was on the 11 day of the second lunar month.
The slopes of Wakakusayama 若草山 were burned.
This ritual dates back to the Kamakura period, when the slopes burned down during a warriour's fight. It is also good to help the new grass come out in spring.
In the evening, drums are beaten and then fire is set in various places, even fireworks are shot in the night sky.
Now it is relocated to the day before the ceremony of "Coming of Age" on a Sunday.

SAIJIKI – NEW YEAR OBSERVANCES

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yakihata tsukuru 焼畑つくる(やきはたつくる)
preparing the burnt fields
hata yaku 畑焼く (はたやく) burning the fields
hatayak 畑焼(はたやき)


shiba yaku 芝焼く (しばやく) burning the grass
early spring
shibayaki 芝焼(しばやき)
shibabi 芝火(しばび)



plowing the fields "hitting the fields" hatake utsu
畑打つ(はたけうつ), hatake kaesu 畑返す(はたけかえす)
hatake suku 畑鋤く(はたけすく)



matsu no midori tsumu 松の緑摘む (まつのみどりつむ)
late spring
..... midori tsumu 晩春 緑摘む(みどりつむ)
wakamidori tsumu 若緑摘む(わかみどりつむ)
"picking the green of the pine"
(this is also the title of a famous song)


jakago amu 蛇籠編む (じゃかごあむ) making a gabion
A basket-like container for stones to prevent mud slides. It used to be made of bamboo, nowadays of metal.
Schanzkorb


mugifumi 麦踏 (むぎふみ) trampling on wheat (straw)
early spring
mugi o fumu 麦を踏む(むぎをふむ)
To make it easier for making tools out of it.



umaya dashi 厩出し (うまやだし) getting the cart out
maya dashi まやだし
clearing the stable with the carts


.................................................................................


watering the seeds, tane hitashi 種浸し (たねひたし )

. Seeds in Spring Kigo  



CLICK for more sowing seeds
sowing the seeds, tane maki 種蒔 (たねまき)
with a few more related kigo


SOWING

asa maku 麻蒔く (あさまく) sowing hemp

asagao maku 朝顔蒔く(あさがおまく)sowing morning glories

goboo maku 牛蒡蒔く (ごぼうまく) sowing burdock

hanadane maku 花種蒔く(はなだねまく)sowing flowers

hechima maku 糸瓜蒔く (へちままく) sowing hechima gourd

keitoo maku 鶏頭蒔く(けいとうまく)sowing cockscomb

kyuuri maku 胡瓜蒔く(きゅうりまく)sowing cucumbers

monotane maku 物種蒔く (ものだねまく) sowing seeds (mostly flowers)

nasu maku 茄子蒔く(なすまく)sowing eggplants

yugao maku 夕顔蒔く(ゆうがおまく) sowing evening glories


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PLANTING


ai maku 藍蒔く (あいまく) planting indigo
..... ai uu 初春 藍植う(あいうう)

hasu uu 蓮植う (はすうう) planting lotus

imo uu 芋植う (いもうう) planting taro potatoes
taneimo, tane-imo 種芋(たねいも)potatoe seedlings
imo no mo 芋の芽(いものめ)potatoe buds,imonae 藷苗(いもなえ)
satoimo uu 里芋植う(さといもうう)planting taro


jagaimo uu 馬鈴薯植う (じゃがいもうう) planting potatoes
..... bareisho uu 仲春 馬鈴薯植う(ばれいしょうう)
jagaimo no nane oroshi 馬鈴薯の種おろし(じゃがいものたねおろし)


kabocha maku 南瓜蒔く (かぼちゃまく) planting pumpkin
..... kabocha uu 南瓜植う(かぼちゃうう)
toonasu maku 南瓜蒔く(とうなすまく)、boofura maku ぼうぶら蒔く(ぼうぶらまく)


kajuu uu 果樹植う (かじゅうう) planting fruit trees
konomi uu 木の実植う (このみうう) planting nuts and fruits

kiku uu 菊植う (きくうう ) planting chrysanthemum

konnyaku uu 蒟蒻植う (こんにゃくうう) planting konyak devil's tongue

kuwa uu 桑植う (くわうう) planting mulberry trees

satoimo uu, sato-imo 里芋植う(さといもうう) planting taro seedlings

suiren uu 睡蓮植う (すいれんうう) planting water lilies


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DIGGING

kuwai horu 慈姑掘る (くわいほる) digging arrowhead bulbs

tokoro horu 野老掘る (ところほる) digging yam roots
Dioscorea fam.


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DIVIDING ROOTS

hagi newake 萩根分 (はぎねわけ) dividing bushclover roots
..... hagi uu 萩植う(はぎうう)planting bushclover

kiku 菊根分 (きくねわけ) dividing chrysanthemum roots
..... kiku wakatsu 菊分つ(きくわかつ)
..... kiku no newake 菊の根分(きくのねわけ)

newake 根分 (ねわけ) dividing roots (for replanting)
..... kabuwake 株分(かぶわけ)

shoobu newake 菖蒲根分 (しょうぶねわけ) dividing iris roots


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harvesting wakame seeweeds, wakame karu
若布刈る (わかめかる)

wakame toru 若布採る(わかめとる)
drying seeweeds, wakame hosu 若布干す(わかめほす)

harvesting nori seeweeds, nori toru 海苔採る(のりとる)


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cutting the goats hair, yagi no ke karu
山羊の毛刈る(やぎのけかる)

cutting the sheeps hair, hitsuji no ke karu
羊の毛刈る ひつじのけかる
hitsuji senmoo 羊剪毛(ひつじせんもう)shearing sheep
senmooki, senmoo ki 剪毛期(せんもうき)time for shearing sheep
mid-spring


makibiraki 牧開 (まきびらき) starting the pastures


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picking tea leaves, chatsumi 茶摘 (ちゃつみ)
preparing (freshly harvested) tea leaves,
cha tsukuri 茶つくり(ちゃつくり)



floating wood, ki nagashi 木流し (きながし)
floating rafts 管流し(くだながし)



picking bracken, warabi tori 蕨採り(わらびとり)
..... warabi tsumi 蕨摘(わらびつみ)
for eating
. WASHOKU
Warabi わらび(蕨) bracken, fern
 



picking wild leaves 草摘む(くさつむ)kusa tsumu
..... tsumikusa 摘草 (つみくさ)
for eating



visiting famous places for cherry blossoms
hana meguri 花巡り(はなめぐり)

looking at cherry blossoms, sakura mi 桜見(さくらみ)
guarding the cherry blossoms, sakura mori 桜守(さくらもり)
with a few more related kigo



hunting season comes to an end, ryooki owaru
猟期終る (りょうきおわる)



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many kigo about festivals and ceremonies come with a verb.

check here
Saijiki of Japanese Ceremonies and Festivals


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wild animals copulating, kemono tsurumu
獣交む (けものつるむ)
..... kemono sakaru 獣交る(けものさかる)


bears coming out of the den, kuma ana o izu
熊穴を出づ (くまあなをいづ)

kuma ana o deru 熊穴を出る(くまあなをでる)
similar kigo are used for other animals


horses are born, uma no ko umaru 馬の子生る(うまのこうまる)


deer loosing the horns, shika no tsuno otsu
鹿の角落つ(しかのつのおつ)



"cats walking to their lovers", kayou neko 通う猫(かようねこ)
. Cats love in spring  




cranes leaving, tsuru saru 鶴去る(つるさる)
cranes going home, tsuru kaeru 鶴帰る(つるかえる)
cranes staying here, nokoru tsuru 残る鶴(のこるつる)
cranes going home, naeru tsuru 帰る鶴(かえるつる)


geese leaving, yuku kari 行く雁(ゆくかり)
ducks going home, kamo kaeru 鴨帰る(かもかえる)
ducks leaving, yuku kamo 行く鴨(ゆくかも)
CLICK for more photos




birds going/coming home, tori kaeru 鳥帰る (とりかえる)
birds copulating, tori sakaru 鳥交る (とりさかる)
..... tori tsurumu 鳥つるむ(とりつるむ)
sparrows copulating, suzume sakaru 雀交る(すずめさかる)



(birds) preparing the nest, su kumi 巣組み(すぐみ)


sleeping butterfly, nemuru choo 眠る蝶(ねむるちょう)
dancing butterfly, mau choo 舞う蝶(まうちょう)
crazily fluttering butterfly,kuruu choo 狂う蝶(くるうちょう)



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late "left over" cherry blossoms, nokoru hana
残る花(のこるはな)
..... nokoru sakura 残る桜(のこるさくら)



flowers of the sumomo plum are falling,
sumomo chiru 李散る(すももちる)
sumomo is a special sour plum kind



Japanese nashi pears flowering,
nashi saku 梨咲く(なしさく)




young green "standing up" starts sprouting
midori tatsu 緑立つ(みどりたつ)




picking aralia plants, ugoki tsumu 五加摘む(うこぎつむ)
picking Clethra barbinervis, ryoobu tsumu 令法摘む(りょうぶつむ)
to prepare spring tea and food


ryoobu 令法 (りょうぶ) Japanese Clethra
..... hatatsumori はたつもり
Clethra barbinervis
ryoobu meshi 令法飯(りょうぶめし)cooked rice with clethra
ryoobu cha 令法茶(りょうぶちゃ)tea made from clethra



"red leaves are flowering", momiji saku もみじ咲く(もみじさく)
a special kind of kaede maple with red leaves in spring



CLICK for more AKEBI photos
akebia flowering, akebi saku 通草咲く(あけびさく)



picking horsetail plants, tsukushi tsumi 土筆摘(つくしつみ)
to prepare spring food


drying hijiki seaweed, hijiki hosu ひじき干す(ひじきほす)
harvesting mirume seaweed, mirume karu みるめ刈る(みるめかる)
harvesting arame seaweed, arame karu 荒布刈る(あらめかる)


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write, to write, writing, I write 書く kaku


kigo for mid-summer
gihoo o kaku 儀方を書く (ぎほうをかく) writing a spell
..... gihoo o shosu 儀方を書す(ぎほうをしょす)
to ward off mosquitoes and flies



humanity kigo for mid-winter
nengajoo kaku 賀状書く がじょうかく writing a new year card


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way



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HAIKU


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Related words

***** Verbs used in Haiku !!!!!


. Planting in summer


. Autumn and farmers work : kigo list  


. Activities in Winter  


End of Year Activities ...


Emotions expressed directly in Haiku


More activities concerning food
WASHOKU ... Japanese Food SAIJIKI


.SAIJIKI ... HUMANITY
Kigo for Spring
 

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Numbers used in Kigo

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Numbers used in Kigo

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Humanity


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Explanation

The use of numbers as counters in a haiku makes the situation look very real. It is therefore carefully used to get this special effect.

"eightfold", yae 八重 ... is often used to mean "many-layered".

The names of the Japanese months are using the numbers from one to 12.


There are some kigo that use counters, thought, and I collect them here.


Also consider this :
WKD . . . . . Numbers used as TOPICS in Haiku
including the use of DATES !

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. . . . . SPRING

First Spring Wind, haru ichiban  春一番
this is followed by second, third and fourth South wind
..... haru niban 春二番, haru sanban 春三番, haru yonban 春四番
This is usually quite a strong storm or gusty wind on the coast of the East side of Japan, toward the end of February. After haru ichiban, we know that spring is coming.



one-layered camellia,
hitoe tsubaki 一重椿(ひとえつばき)

"eight-layered", multi-layered camellia
yae tsubaki 八重椿(やえつばき)
WKD : Camellia (tsubaki)



"one night weed", hito yo gusa 一夜草(ひとよぐさ)
"one leaf weed", hito ha gusa 一葉草(ひとはぐさ)
"Three-colored violet", sanshoku sumire 三色菫




"eight-fold mist", yae gasumi 八重霞(やえがすみ)
WKD : Fog, Mist and more hazy words


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. . . . . SUMMER

"one layer sash", hitoe obi 一重帯(ひとえおび)
Summer sash (natsu obi)



"sushi left for one night"
ichiya zushi 一夜鮓(いちやずし)
salted fish, left to give its tast to the rice over night
WKD : Sushi is raw fish on vinegared rice ! 寿司



"sweet ricewine left for one night"
hitoya zake 一夜酒(ひとよざけ)

a kind of "sweet ricewine" amazake.
WKD : Ricewine, rice wine (sake, saké, saki)



"first cuting of the weeds" , ichiban gusa
一番草(いちばんぐさ)
second cutting of the weeds, niban gusa 二番草(にばんぐさ). third cutting of the weeds, sanbangusa 三番草(さんばんぐさ)
Having lived in Rural Japan for more than 10 years, I must say, we are lucky to get around with cutting them three times. Often is a lot more often. Cutting the weeds along the small paths of the terraced ride fields is quite a job for the farmers.



cutting indigo, ai karu 藍刈る (あいかる)
kigo for late summer
first harvest of indigo, ichiban ai 一番藍(いちばんあい)
second harvest of indigo, niban ia 二番藍(にばんあい)
aidama 藍玉(あいだま)"indigo ball"
aitsuki 藍搗(あいつき)pounding indigo
yama ai 山藍(やまあい)mountain indigo
Ryuukyuu ai 琉球藍(りゅうきゅうあい)indigo from Okinawa
Indo ai インド藍(いんどあい)Indigo from India

(There are more kigo with indigo in other seasons.)
TBA.


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. . . . . AUTUMN


. August 1 (hassaku 八朔) .
first day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar


. hyakugiku 百菊(ひゃくぎく)"one hundred different types of chrysanthemums"


kiri hitoha 桐一葉 one leaf of the paulownia tree



The autumn harvest moon comes with a few numbers for the days before and after the full moon.
The Moon, O-Tsukisama, Der Mond, La Lune
Moon in autumn (aki no tsuki)



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. . . . . WINTER


. sankan shion 三寒四温 (さんかんしおん)
three times cold, four times warm
 
..... sankan 三寒(さんかん)、shion 四温(しおん)
shionbiori, shion biyori 四温日和(しおんびより) fine day of shion
A common winter weather pattern mostly in China and Korea, also sometimes in Japan. Has been introduced as kigo to Japan with the imigrants of Manchuria.




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. . . . . NEW YEAR

First Water, ichiban mizu 一番水(いちばんみず)
First drawing of Well Water (wakamizu)



First Day of the Tiger, ichi no tora
一の寅(いちのとら)


"First Lottery", ichi no tomi 一の富(いちのとみ)
"Second Lottery", ni no tomi 二の富(にのとみ)
"Third Lottery", san no tomi 三の富(さんのとみ)
Related to Mino-O New Year Lottery 箕面の富 in Osaka.



Check out the many FIRST activities of the New Year !
There are also more references to other ceremonies using numbers.


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way



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HAIKU





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Related words

***** Numbers used in Haiku

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11/09/2007

Platanus (sycamore)

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Platanus (sycamore)

***** Location: Europa, other areas
***** Season: Late Autumn
***** Category: Plant


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Explanation
sycomore
Platanus is a small genus of trees native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole members of the family Platanaceae.

They are all large trees to 30–50 m tall, deciduous (except for P. kerrii), and are mostly found in riparian or other wetland habitats in the wild, though proving drought tolerant in cultivation away from streams.

They are known as planes in Europe, and as sycamores in North America. (Outside North America, the name "sycamore" refers to either the fig Ficus sycomorus, the plant originally so named, or the Great Maple, Acer pseudoplatanus.)

CLICK for more photos !

The flowers are reduced and are borne in balls (globose head); 3–7 hairy sepals may be fused at base, and the petals are 3–7 (or no) and spathulate. Male and female flowers are separate, but on the same plant (monoecious). The number of heads in one cluster (inflorescence) is indicative of the species. The male flower has with 3–8 stamens; the female has a superior ovary with 3–7 carpels. Plane trees are wind-pollinated. Male balls fall off the branch after shedding their pollen. The female flowers, on the other hand, remain attached to the branch firmly.

CLICK for more London Plane trees !

The tree literally shrugs off pollution because it is continually outgrowing and shedding its bark. This is why the bark has an attractive "camouflage" pattern in shades of green, gray and cream. The London plane (Platanus acerifolia) is thought to have sprung up in Oxford, England in the 17th century.

© More in the WIKIPEDIA !

Platanus hispanica ... London Plane
Platanus occidentalis ... American Sycamore, American Plane or Buttonwood
Platanus wrightii ... Arizona Sycamore

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Two travellers, worn out by the heat of the summer's sun, laid themselves down at noon under the wide-spreading branches of a Plane Tree. As they rested under its shade, one of the Travellers said to the other,
"What a singularly useless tree is the Plane! It bears no fruit, and is not of the least service to man."

The Plane Tree, interrupting him, said,

"You ungrateful fellows! Do you, while receiving benefits from me and resting under my shade, dare to describe me as useless, and unprofitable?'
Some men underrate their best blessings.

Aesop's Fables

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Worldwide use

Germany

Platane

CLICK for more photos !

In Germany, we have many Platanenallee, alleys with this trees by the roadside. They are a joy to drive through in autumn!

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Japan

Momijiba-suzukake (London plane tree)
lit. maple leaf hanging bell tree
Platanus acerifolia

...................... kigo for late spring

flower of the platanus, suzukake no hana
鈴懸の花 (すずかけのはな)

puratanasu no hana プラタナスの花(ぷらたなすのはな)
..... botan no ki 釦の木(ぼたんのき)


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

...................... kigo for late autumn

yellow leaves of the platanus, momijiba もみじば


momijiba fuu 紅葉葉楓(もみじばふう)
Liquidambar formosana(楓, kaede, maple tree)
of Chinese origin.

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Things found on the way


Right outside my front door grows a giant American Sycamore, an outsized tree for a cramped city neighborhood. It's crown of branches crowd in so close to the second floor windows that when I am in that room I feel like I'm living in a tree house.

My favorite description of a sycamore, from a poem
by Gregory Orr, "Elegy," (for James Wright):

.................tree
from which the grey bark
peels and drops until
it stands half
in rags, half in radiance.


Larry Bole

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I love the trees surrounding our house in this little "neck" of the woods (being playful... I might say due to the colors of autumn and my family: me, my wife, sons, and cats, being born in the
South... "redneck" of the woods.)

trees
in such symmetry
spread toward heaven
while holding earth tight
display their colorful array
yet never see the sight


"chibi" (pen-name for Dennis M. Holmes)


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HAIKU


faint autumn sun --
a plane tree leaf drifts
and tumbles down



© Isabelle Prondzynski / Photo Album

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platanin list
pade na deteljice --
vse triperesne

a sycomore leaf
falls onto the clovers --
all are tree-leaf


une feuille de platane
tombe sur les trèfles --
tous à trois feuilles

 © Alenka Zorman. tempslibres 2005


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autumn sun ...
a sycamore tree
changes colour


Ella Wagemakers, 2011


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the nakedness
of sycamores stretching
dreams



photo credit : one of our front yard trees,
Sacramento, California, June 2012、by Rebecca Judge


In Sacramento, California, USA : our sycamores are molting, now in June.

molting sycamore
kigo for early summer

Louis Osofsky
- WKD facebook 2012 -


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Related words

***** . Autumn Leaves (momiji, Japan)
yellow leaves, colored leaves


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10/18/2007

Rain on Cherry Blossoms

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"Rain on Blossoms" (hana no ame)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Late Spring
***** Category: Heavens


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Explanation


"rain on blossoms", "rain an blooms", "rain on flowers", "blossom rain"
hana no ame 花の雨
rain on cherry blossoms etc.

rain during the time of cherry blossoms, hanadoki no ame
花時の雨(はなどきのあめ)


CLICK for more photos !

Since in the Japanese haiku vocabulary, HANA is identical with the cherry blossoms, there is no doubt when using this expression. In other languages, it is usually not enought to convey this strong meaning and we should make sure the reader understands the connotations. Best use a footnote, but at least translate it as

rain on cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms in the rain, ... many more versions are possible.

A cold and chilly rain during the cherry blossom viewing season. The Japanese brave the weather and go out to enjoy the cherry blossoms anyway, since the time to that is just so limited.


According to the Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, it can also be a metaphor (mitate) for a heavy fall of blossoms/petals.
(In this case, petals falling like a snow strom(hanafubuki 花吹雪) can also be used.)




hanafubuki 花吹雪 "blossom storm"
"blossom blizzard", blossom snowstorm
... sakurafubuki 桜吹雪(さくらふぶき)
hika 飛花(ひか) cherry blossoms flying around


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In "Cherry Blossom Epiphany," Robin Gill translates "hana no ame" as "blossom rain."

Two examples:

yorokobi no namida zo machishi hana no ame

this long-awaited
blossom rain: call it
tears of joy!


Teiji (1645), trans. Gill


hana no ame hito o yowasu ni ware no you

blossom rain
pushing drink on a friend
I end up drunk


Ryooto(1717?), trans. Gill

Of this haiku, Gill notes that:

"Tsuji Momoko, haiku poet herself, explains: 'This is the chilly rain of blossom-viewing time.'"

Ms. Tsuji goes on to contrast the chilliness of 'blossom rain' to the warmth of 'sake' in her explication of this haiku.

Compiled by
Larry Bole, Translating Haiku Forum

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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way



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HAIKU


花の雨竹にけぶれば真青なり
hana no ame take ni kebureba masao nari

rain on the cherry blossoms
with bamboo in the mist -
so pale and green


Mizuhara Shūōshi 水原秋桜子
Tr. Gabi Greve

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バイブルをよむ寂しさよ花の雨
baiburu o yomu sabishisa yo hana no ame

this loneliness
while I read the bible -
rain on the cherry blossoms


diese Einsamkeit
während ich die Bibel lese -
Kirschblütenregen

Sugita Hisajo 杉田久女
Tr. Gabi Greve


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Related words

***** Cherry Blossoms (sakura, hana) ...
and many related kigo

***** Rain in various KIGO

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9/21/2007

Seasons Beginning

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
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Seasons beginning

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Season


*****************************
Explanation

Each change of a season brings a mixed bag of feelings, some people are happy it is over, some would like it to last a bit longer ... all can be expressed in kigo.

Here let us look at some kigo related to the BEGINNING of each season. Each belongs to the "early" part of the season words.

If you can think of different and better ways to translate these words, please let me know.

Gabi Greve


A friend once remarked:
beginning of spring, i'm not sure if this sounds good in a haiku, it seems just a statement rather than an image.

I hope the kigo collection below helps you choose the right kigo for your haiku.

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. . . . . SPRING

Spring, according to the Asian Lunar Calendar, was identical with the New Year.

spring begins, shoshun 初春 しょしゅん
..... haru hajime 初春 春初(はるはじめ, mooshun 孟春(もうしゅん)
jooshun 上春(じょうしゅん)


"spring stands up", spring begins, risshun
立春 (りっしゅん)

... haru tatsu 春立つ(はるたつ)
spring comes, haru kuru 春来る(はるくる, haru saru 春さる(はるさる)

it becomes spring, haru ni naru 春になる(はるになる)

"Good Luck for Spring beginning" risshun daikichi
立春大吉(りっしゅんだいきち)

early spring, sooshun 早春 (そうしゅん)
spring is early, haru hayashi 春早し(はるはやし)
spring is light, haru awashi 春淡し(はるあわし)

spring is "thin", haru asashi 春浅し (はるあさし)
.....asaki haru 浅き春(あさきはる), senshun浅春(せんしゅん)


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. . . . . SUMMER

summer begins, shoka 初夏 (しょか)
natsu no hajime 夏の始(なつのはじめ)
hatsu natsu 初夏(はつなつ), natsu hajime 夏始(なつはじめ)
mooka 孟夏(もうか)
"head of summer", shuka 首夏(しゅか)


"summer stands up", summer begins, rikka 立夏 (りっか)
natsu tatsu 夏立つ(なつたつ)
"entering spring" , natsu ni iru 初夏 夏に入る(なつにいる)
summer of this morning, kesa no natsu
今朝の夏(けさのなつ)
summer comes, natsu kuru 夏来る(なつくる)


summer is "thin", natsu asashi 夏浅し (なつあさし)
asaki natsu 浅き夏(あさきなつ)


summer shows, natsu meku 夏めく (なつめく)
..... natsu kizasu 夏きざす(なつきざす)


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. . . . . AUTUMN

autumn begins, hatsu aki 初秋 (はつあき)
..... aki hajime 秋初め(あきはじめ)
..... shoshuu 初秋(しょしゅう)
"new autumn", shinshuu 新秋(しんしゅう)
"head of autumn", shushuu 首秋(しゅしゅう)

beginning of autumn, jooshuu 上秋(じょうしゅう)
mooshuu 孟秋(もうしゅう)
chooshuu 肇秋(ちょうしゅう), ranshuu 蘭秋(らんしゅう)

early autumn, sooshuu 早秋(そうしゅう)
dooshuu 桐秋(とうしゅう)
bonshuu 盆秋(ぼんしゅう)


autumn is "thin", aki asashi 秋浅し(あきあさし)
early into autumn, akiguchi 秋口(あきぐち)


"autumn stands up", risshuu 立秋 (りっしゅう)
aki tatsu 秋立つ(あきたつ)

autumn of this morning, kesa no aki 今朝の朝(けさのあさ)
autumn of today, kyoo no aki 今日の秋(きょうのあき)

autumn is coming, aki kuru 秋来る(あきくる)
aki saru 秋さる(あきさる)

entering autumn, aki ni iru 秋に入る(あきにいる)


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. . . . . WINTER

beginning of winter, hatsu fuyu 初冬 (はつふゆ)
..... jootoo 上冬(じょうとう), mootoo孟冬(もうとう)
winter is beginning, fuyu no hajime 冬の始(ふゆのはじめ)
..... shotoo 初冬(しょとう)


"winter stands up", rittoo 立冬 (りっとう)
..... fuyu tatsu 冬立つ(ふゆたつ)
entering winter, fuyu ni iru 冬に入る(ふゆにいる) the winter season begins
winter comes, fuyu kitaru 冬来る(ふゆきたる)
winter of this morning, kesa no fuyu 今朝の冬(けさのふゆ)


winter is "thin", fuyu asashi 冬浅し (ふゆあさし)
..... asaki fuyu 浅き冬(あさきふゆ)


fuyu meku 冬めく (ふゆめく) winter is getting "like winter"
just a bit colder than the "thin" winter days.



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Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way



*****************************
HAIKU



あやとりのエッフェル塔も冬に入る
ayatori no efferutoo mo fuyu ni iru

the Eiffel tower
(which looks like) an ayatori pattern
also begins the winter season

Akito Arima

ayatori, cat's cradle game of children

. WKD : Buildings and Haiku   


*****************************
Related words

***** Seasons ending


the HAIKU SEASONS


spring begins, February 4, risshun 立春
summer begins, May 6, rikka 立夏
autumn begins, August 8, risshuu 立秋
winter begins, November 7, rittoo 立冬

The Asian Lunar Calendar. Reference


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. . . . SPRING
the complete SAIJIKI


. . . . SUMMER
the complete SAIJIKI


. . . . AUTUMN
the complete SAIJIKI


. . . . WINTER
the complete SAIJIKI



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Seasons ending

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
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summer's end -
a new beginning
at Haiku Hut


This page is dedicated to Mike Rehling and the Haiku Hut!


http://www.haikuhut.com/
http://www.michaelrehling.com/

September 24, 2007

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Seasons Ending

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Season


*****************************
Explanation

Each change of a season brings a mixed bag of feelings, some people are happy it is over, some would like it to last a bit longer ... all can be expressed in kigo.
As the season winds down, we remember the good things of it and ponder our expectations for the coming season.

Here let us look at some kigo related to the END of each season. Each belongs to the "late" part of the season words.

If you can think of different and better ways to translate these words, please let me know.

Gabi Greve


A friend once remarked:
end of autumn, i'm not sure if this sounds good in a haiku, it seems just a statement rather than an image.

I hope the kigo collection below helps you choose the right kigo for your haiku.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

There are some special expressions in Japanese that are used to express the ending of a season.

hate 果て

A first ku (hokku) that can stand alone, usually with a mention of a special area, an independent hokku, is called
jihokku 地発句(じほっく)

The last ku of a linked verse is "ageku 挙句", and there is a popular Japanese proverb, ageku no hate 挙句の果て, at the last ku, meaning "at last" (with a strong feeling of relief that it is over!).

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hedataru, 隔たる ... to be distant from

minato, 湊 ... This is an old use, here meaning is "the end of a season"
(now the character means "port, harbour" )

nagori, 名残 ... a trace of something

oshimu, 惜しむ ... to hold something dear, place great value on something
to lament the passing of a season

tonari/donari 隣(どなり)


SPRING and AUTUMN, two special seasons to come to an end

The end of the pleasant spring season with its mild temperatures is especially sad, since now the hot and humid summer is starting.

In autumn, the feeling of sadness and loss is expecially explicit in most of the kigo related to its parting. The coming winter season was a hard one to live through in the times without electricity and central heating of the Edo period.

We have "Spring is leaving, Autumn is leaving" haru/aki yuku, but the same expressions are not used for winter and summer.

The same holds for the combinations with OSHIMU 惜しむ, which are only used in spring and autumn. In winter, it is used in relation to the change of the year, not so much the change of the weather. Oshimu is used to express a strong poetic feeling. It has been used by the people since olden times, it also expresses the honest feeling of the farmers since historic times.


tsuku, coming to an end, 尽く(つく)is only used for march in spring and september in autumn to denote the change of the season.


tonari, next to the following season, can be used for all the four seasons.
It expresses the change of all things, as it is also seen in the life and death of humans too. It also carries a bit of the worries the new season might bring, like saying a little prayer "let it not be too harsh in the coming season"! And then the farmers had to go on with the preparations for the new season.

.................................................................................


Poets of the Heian period remind us already of the importance of spring and autumn.


春はただ花の一重に咲くばかり
物のあはれは秋ぞまされる


haru wa tada hana no hitoe ni saku bakari
mono no aware wa aki zo masareru

Spring
Blooms simply
in one petal of the cherry blossoms -
In autumn mono no aware
is at its highest.


Shuishu 拾遺集 / 拾遺和歌集
Tr. Norinaga Motoori, Michael F. Marra


Arare cracker devoted to the poetry collection
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu 百人一首


source : www.m-biotics.com

Ogurayama shunjuu おぐら山春秋 
Spring and Autumn at Mount Ogura



quote
The poetry of Yamato springs from the heart of man as its seed, producing the countless leaves of language. Multitudinous are the affairs of men in this world - what their minds think, what their eyes see, what their ears hear they must find words to express.
Listening to the warbler singing amid the blossoms of spring,
or to the murmur of frogs in the marshes in autumn,
we know that every living thing plays its part in the mingled music of nature.
Ki no Tsurayuki
source : One_Hundred_Poems


. Ogura Hyakunin Isshu Poems 小倉百人一首 .

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SPRING

spring is leaving, passing spring, departing spring,
parting spring, yuku haru 行く春 (ゆくはる)

... haru yuku 春行く(はるゆく)
banshun 晩春 late spring
The end of the pleasant spring season with its mild temperatures is especially sad, since now the hot and humid summer is starting.


lingering spring, haru no nagori 春の名残(はるのなごり)
mementos of spring, haru no katami 春のかたみ(はるのかたみ)

end of spring, spring's end, spring comes to a close
... kure no haru 暮の春 (くれのはる)
... boshun 暮春 (ぼしゅん)
... haru kururu 春暮るる (はるくるる)

spring is leaving, haru no yukue 春の行方(はるのゆくえ)
spring is leaving, haru no wakare春の別れ(はるのわかれ)

nothing left of spring, haru no kagiri 春の限り(はるのかぎり)
end of spring at last, spring's end,
... haru no hate 春の果て(はるのはて)

spring is going, haru no minato 春の湊(はるのみなと)

haru no tomari 春の泊(はるのとまり)
spring has come to an end


"oh spring, you are parting", haru zo hedataru
... 春ぞ隔たる(はるぞへだたる)

spring coming to an end, haru tsuku 春尽く(はるつく)
..... shunjin春尽(しゅんじん), soshun徂春(そしゅん)

seeing off the spring, haru o okuru
... 春を送る(はるをおくる)

spring without tomorrow, asu naki haru 翌なき春(あすなきはる)
"no comeback for spring", spring with no tomorrow


to lament about the passing of spring, lamenting spring
haru oshimu 春惜しむ はるおしむ
..... haru o oshimu 春を惜しむ(はるをおしむ)
..... sekishun 惜春(せきしゅん)、

... ... ...

summer is near, natsu chikashi 夏近し (なつちかし)
... spring is close by, in the neighbourhood
natsu donaru 夏隣る(なつどなる), natsu donari 夏隣(なつどなり)
summer is close, natsu chikamu 夏近む(なつちかむ)
... chikamu natsu 近き夏(ちかきなつ)

month of Yayoi (now April)i is coming to an end,
... yayoi jin 弥生尽 (やよいじん)
Yayoi is the month of growth in the Asian lunar calendar.
5 April – 5 May


april is over, shigatsu jin 四月尽 しがつじん
shigatsu owaru 四月終る(しがつおわる)
shigatsu tsuku 四月尽く(しがつつく)



. . . . SPRING
the complete SAIJIKI



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SUMMER

end of summer, at last, natsu no hate
夏の果 (なつのはて)

... natsu hate 夏果(なつはて)

summer is going, yuku natsu ゆく夏(ゆくなつ)

summer comes to an end, natsu owaru, 夏終る(なつおわる)
summer is leaving, natsu no wakare 夏の別れ(なつのわかれ)

to lament about the passing of summer, lamenting summer
... natsu oshimu 夏惜しむ(なつおしむ)

end of summer, kure no natsu 暮の夏(くれのなつ)

nothing left of summer, natsu no kagiri
... 夏の限り(なつのかぎり)

running after summer, natsu o ou 夏を追う(なつをおう)


month Minazuki (now July) is coming to an end
minazuki jin 水無月尽 (みなづきじん )
Minazuki is waterless month in the Asian lunar calendar.
7 July – 7 August

July is over, shichigatsu jin 七月尽(しちがつじん)


        
"waiting for autumn", aki o matsu 秋を待つ (あきをまつ)

..... aki matsu 秋待つ(あきまつ)


aki chikashi 秋近し (あきちかし) autumn is near
..... aki donari 秋隣(あきどなり
..... aki tonaru 秋隣る(あきとなる)
aki no tonari 秋の隣り(あきのとなり)
aki no sakai 秋の境(あきのさかい)border to autumn
aki semaru 秋迫る(あきせまる)autumn comes closer
kinu aki 来ぬ秋(こぬあき) autumn comes


"tomorrow is autumn", asu wa aki 翌は秋(あすはあき)
tomorrow comes autumn, asu kuru aki 翌来る秋(あすくるあき)

"night is like autumn", autumnal night,
... yoru no aki 夜の秋 (よるのあき)


. . . . SUMMER
the complete SAIJIKI



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YUKU AKI in photos !

AUTUMN

autumn is leaving, yuku aki 行く秋 (ゆくあき)
"fleeting autumn" (Tr. Higginson)
... aki yuku 秋行く(あきゆく)
banshuu 晩秋 (ばんしゅ) late autumn
..... oso aki 晩秋(おそあき)
..... kishuu 季秋(きしゅう)
matsushuu 末秋(まつしゅう)
sue no aki 末の秋(すえのあき)
In autumn, the feeling of sadness and loss is expecially explicit in most of the kigo related to its parting. The coming winter season was a hard one to live through in the times without electricity and central heating of the Edo period.

lingering autumn, aki no nagori 秋の名残(あきのなごり)
..... nokoru aki 残る秋(のこるあき)
autumn is leaving, aki no wakare, 秋の別(あきのわかれ)
autumn is over, aki no owari 秋の終(あきのおわり)

nothing left of autumn, aki no kagiri
秋の限(あきのかぎり

autumn is going, aki no minato 秋の湊(あきのみなと)
autumn is leaving, aki no yukue 秋の行方(あきゆくえ)

"autumn is going home", kaeru aki
帰る秋(かえるあき)
seeing autumn off, aki ni okururu 秋に後るる(あきにおくるる)

"oh autumn, you are parting" aki zo hedataru
... 秋ぞ隔る(あきぞへだたる)

end of autumn at last, aki no hate
秋の果(あきのはて)

autumn has passed, aki sugu 秋過ぐ(あきすぐ)

to lament about the passing of autumn, lamenting autumn,
aki oshimu 秋惜む (あきおしむ)


winter is close, fuyu donari 冬隣 (ふゆどなり)
fuyu tonaru 冬隣る(ふゆとなる)
winter is near, fuyu chikashi 冬近し(ふゆちかし)
waiting for winter, fuyu o matsu 冬を待つ(ふゆをまつ)


"september is over" kugatsu jin 九月尽 (くがつじん)
... kugatsu tsuku 九月尽く(くがつつく)
"September" in the old lunar calendar, means the end of the autumn season. Now it is mostly the beginning of November. In the lunar calendar, this kigo was often used on the last day (misoka) of the ninth month.




We also have a time of the day

. Autumn dusk (aki no kure 秋の暮) .
autumn nightfall, autumn evening, autumn eve


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WINTER

winter is over, fuyu tsuku 冬尽く (ふゆつく)
..... mifuyu tsuku み冬尽く(みふゆつく)
..... fuyu owaru 冬終る(ふゆおわる)

end of winter at last, fuyu hatsu 冬果つ(ふゆはつ)

winter is going, fuyu yuku 冬行く(ふゆゆく)
..... fuyu saru 冬去る(ふゆさる)

lingering winter, fuyu no nagori 冬の名残(ふゆのなごり)

nothing left of winter, fuyu no kagiri
冬の限り(ふゆのかぎり)
winter is leaving, fuyu no wakare
冬の別れ(ふゆのわかれ)

seeing off the winter, fuyu okuru 冬送る(ふゆおくる)



- - - - - BUT

fuyu no kure 冬の暮 (ふゆのくれ) winter evening
fuyu no yuube 冬の夕(ふゆのゆうべ)
fuyu no yoi 冬の宵(ふゆのよい)
kanbo 寒暮(かんぼ)

.................................................................................



The following kigo express the strong wish for spring to start soon!


kigo for mid-winter

haru matsu 春待つ (はるまつ) waiting for spring

..... haru o matsu 春を待つ(はるをまつ)
..... taishun 待春(たいしゅん)
The daily cold is still a reality, but the human feeling is already in the near future.


In the year 2012, this feeling is mixed with the memories of March 11, 2011

. Japan after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011 .


地震津波春に遭ひしも春を待つ
nai tsunami haru ni aishi mo haru o matsu

even if we remember in spring
the earthquake and the tsunami -
waiting for spring

Matsunaga Sakufuu 松永朔風
Kanagawa


春待つや津波を記憶せし土も
haru o matsu tsunami o kioku seshi tsuchi mo

waiting for spring -
even the earth with it's memories
of the tsunami


source : princeetlapine

Fukuda Yumi 福田由美
Miyagi

.................................................................................


kigo for late winter

spring is near, haru chikashi 春近し (はるちかし)
..... haru tonari 春隣(はるとなり)
..... haru o tonari 春を隣(はるをとなり)
..... haru tonaru 春隣る(はるとなる)


spring very close, haru majika 春まぢか(はるまぢか)
heading fast toward spring, haru o isogu
春を急ぐ(はるをいそぐ)、、春の急ぎ(はるのいそぎ)

spring still far, haru tooshi 春遠し(はるとおし)
..... haru tookaraji 春遠からじ(はるとおからじ)
..... haru yaha tooki 春やは遠き(はるやはとおき)

spring wind is close, harukaze chikashi
春風近し(はるかぜちかし)

"spring of tomorrow", asu no haru 明日の春(あすのはる)


"spring will start this year", nennai risshun
年内立春 (ねんないりっしゅん)

"spring in this winter", fuyu no haru 冬の春(ふゆのはる)
"spring in this year", toshi no haru 年の春(としのはる)
..... toshi no uchi no haru 年の内の春(としのうちのはる)

"spring on the last day of the year (oomisoka)
jojitsu risshun 除日立春(じょじつりっしゅん)

According to the Asian lunar calendar, the beginning of the New Year co-incided with the beginning of spring.


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the YEAR is ENDING

There are quite a few expressions in Japanese for this important part of a year.
Remember that in the Asian lunar calendar this was identical with the beginning of spring (at least one month later than now in Japan).

kigo for mid-winter

toshi no kure 年の暮 (としのくれ) end of the year
..... kure 暮(くれ)

saibo 歳暮(さいぼ)、saibon 歳晩(さいばん)、nenmatsu 年末(ねんまつ)、saimatsu 歳末(さいまつ)、bosai 暮歳(ぼさい)、bansai 晩歳(ばんさい)、toshi no sue 年の末(としのすえ)、toshi no kiwa 年の際(としのきわ)、toshi no se 年の瀬(としのせ)、toshi no hate 年の果(としのはて)、toshi no owari 年の終(としのおわり)
toshi no saka 年の坂(としのさか)、toshi no tooge 年の峠(としのとうげ)、toshi no kozue 年の梢(としのこずえ)、toshi no o 年の尾(としのお)
toshi no minato 年の湊(としのみなと)、toshi no seki 年の関(としのせき)
toshi no nagori 年の名残(としのなごり)、toshi no nokori 年の残り(としののこり)

toshi no wakare 年の別れ(としのわかれ)"good bye to the year"

toshi no oku 年の奥(としのおく)、toshi no kishi 年の岸(としのきし)
toshi no fuyu 年の冬(としのふゆ)"winter of the year"

toshi no isogi 年の急ぎ(としのいそぎ)year ends (fast)

toshi kururu 年暮るる(としくるる)year comes to an end
toshi tsukuru 年尽くる(としつくる)、toshi hatsuru年果つる(としはつる)、toshi tsumaru 年つまる(としつまる)、
toshi fukashi 年深し(としふかし)"the year is deep"


kazoebi 数え日 (かぞえび) counting the days
This is a rather new kigo. When people start to count the days with the ten fingers of their hands.


toshi no uchi 年の内 (としのうち) within the year
..... nennai 年内(ねんない), before the end of the year


yuku toshi 行く年 (ゆくとし) the old year
(the passing year)
nagaruru toshi 流るる年(ながるるとし)
toshi ayumu 年歩む(としあゆむ)、inuru toshi 去ぬる年(いぬるとし)、toshi yuku 年逝く(としゆく)



kotsugomori 小晦日 (こつごもり) december 30
one day before the last day of the year, the 29th of december in the lunar calendar, now december 30

toshigomori, toshi gomori 年籠 'としごもり) retreat at the end of the year
toshi mairi 年参(としまいり) pilgrimage at the end of the year


. oomisoka 大晦日 last day of the year   


. End of the Year activities  


toshikoshi, toshi koshi 年越 (としこし) seeing the old year out
toshi kosu 年越す(としこす)、ootoshikoshi 大年越(おおとしこし)
toshi utsuru 年移る(としうつる)

. toshikoshi soba noodles 年越し蕎麦  


toshi no yo 年の夜 (としのよ) (last) night of the year
joya 除夜(じょや)、toshiya 年夜(としや)、toshi no ban 年の晩(としのばん)
toshi hitoyo 年一夜(としひとよ)
joseki 除夕(じょせき)
joya moode 除夜詣(じょやもうで)shrine visit at the last night

. . . . . but



Setsubun Daruma from Shrine Yoshida Jinja 吉田神社

toshikoshi moode 年越詣 (としこしもうで)
visiting a temple or shrine on the last night of the year

..... setsubun moode 節分詣(せつぶんもうで) Setsubun Mode pilgrimage
visiting a temple or shrine at the change of the season
..... 節分籠(せつぶんごもり) staying at home during the change of the season
retreat at Setsubun
(setsubun according to the Asian lunar calendar was the end of winter / beginning of spring)

yakuzuka 厄塚 (やくづか) mound to ward off evil
kigo for late winter

A yakuzuka was erected to keep the evil spirits at bay during the New Year time.
The most famous is at Yoshida Shrine in Kyoto.
At the Setsubun night huge fires are lit and people throw simple clay dishes (kawarake) down the valley.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



. Atago Shrine .
At the Atago mountain in Kyoto it was a custom to throw simple clay dishes (kawarake) from the mountain to make a wish come true.


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NEW YEAR

last year, kozo 去年 (こぞ) , kyonen 去年(きょねん)
... kyosai 去歳(きょさい)、
old year, kyuunen 旧年(きゅうねん)

old winter, kyuutoo 旧冬(きゅうとう)
old year, furutoshi 古年(ふるとし)
"first past", hatsu mukashi 初昔(はつむかし)

"the year of tonight", yoi no toshi宵の年(よいのとし)

past year, new year, kozo kotoshi 去年今年(こぞことし)


An interesting expression is the use of ROO, a word used in Buddhism to count the years of a person living in a monastery.
old monastic year, kyuuroo,旧臘(きゅうろう)



kigo for late winter

watakushidai 私大 (わたくしだい) first day of the new year
now second day, according to tratition in Akita and Aomori.


Hatsugane, 初鐘、the first ringing of the temple bell, is also called "Joya no Kane" 除夜の鐘 and is rung 108 times whilst passing from the old to the new year.
. joya no kane 除夜の鐘 .
hyakuhachi no kane 百八の鐘(ひゃくはちのかね)
108 times ringing the bell


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Worldwide use

Europe / Europa

It came as quite a surprise to see how different the *feelings* of the ends of seasons are in Japan, compared to the temperate countries of Europe that I know (Ireland, Belgium).

My impression is that, in Europe, while spring is a season full of hope and colour and life, it is so much loved because it is the precursor of summer, the high point of the year.

Subtle poets love spring and autumn because they are beautiful in a more subtle way -- but I am pretty sure that the average temperate European citizen loves summer best. Lamenting the passing of spring would not be a common occurrence, even among poets, I believe...

Read an interesting discussion
Isabelle Prondzynski


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Things found on the way



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HAIKU



Painting by Buson

行く春や 重たき琵琶 の だき心
yuku haru ya omotaki biwa no daki kokoro

spring is leaving -
thinking about carrying
a heavy biwa lute


. WKD : biwa 琵琶 lute .


...

ゆく春や逡巡として遅ざくら
yuku haru ya shunjun to shite oso zakura

la fin du printemps-
hésitantes, les dernières
fleurs de cerisier

Buson , Tr. nekojita

. Yosa Buson 与謝蕪村 in Edo .



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行く春や鳥啼き魚の目は泪
yuku haru ya tori naki uo no me wa namida

spring is leaving ..
birds sing and the eyes of fish
are full of tears


Matsuo Basho
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

tori ga naku is a normal expression for the birds singing. It is not really "cry".
This bird of spring is the hototogisu with his gentle warbling.

And what kind of fish is this? Maybe the sawara 鰆, Spanish mackerel, which has the character for SPRING 春 in its name?
Or shirauo, 白魚 the white fish, which is a delicacy of this region and was a favorite dish of Basho himself.
uo no me 魚の目, the "eye of a fish" is also an expression for a corn on the sole of the foot. Basho is maybe thinking about the long journey ahead and the many corns he has to tend to on the way.

Another theory about the crying fish:
It refers to the fishmonger Sugiyama Sanpu 杉山杉風, who had been a great (financial) patron of Basho in Edo.

Basho is at Senju 千住 in 1689, taking final leave from his friends.

. Sugiyama Sanpu 杉山杉風 (Sampu) .

. Oku no Hosomichi .
Narrow Road to the Deep North

yuku haru ya
tori naki
uo no me wa namida

spring is leaving ..
birds sing
tears in the eyes of (my friend called) Fish


fish is haiku shorthand, a kind of kakekotoba, for the nickname of his friend, the fish dealer.

Another poem where Basho uses an animal to allude to one of his haiku masters
. semi no koe - Sengin 蝉吟 (1642 - 1666) .


Basho is also alluding to Chinese poems:

Tu Fu "Spring View"

In grief for the times, I shed tears at the sight of flowers.
Resentful of parting, I brood over the cries of birds.



Tao Chien "Returning to Live in the Country"

A migrant bird longs for its native woods.
A fish in the pond recalls the mountain pond it came from.



Bashō and his interpreters
Makoto Ueda, Bashō Matsuo
source : books.google.co.jp


Discussion with Chen-ou Liu about the "Chinese background"
. Translating Haiku Forum .

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spring with no tomorrow
she throws her wedding ring
off the pier


Bea, USA

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Cool breeze through jersey
As I lament summer's end.
Leaves mirrored in shade.


natsu no hate, by Fritz

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なりにけりなりにけりまで年の暮
nari ni keri nari ni keri made toshi no kure

things just happen
things really just happen -
end of the year


Matsuo Basho, age 33

There is a poem by
. Nishiyama Sooin 西山宗因 Nishiyama Soin . :
(1605 - 1682)

年たけてなりにけりなりにけり春に又
toshi takete nari ni keri nari ni keri haru ni mata

the year comes to an end -
things just happen, really just happen
again in spring


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lamenting autumn --
sake sips from lips
not my own


The memory of the first time I visited Japan is of scattered images from scenes flashing by the window on a Bullet Train. The trip is comfortable but long and we anticipated its end in early evening to check in and enjoy a late evening meal and drinks. Akita having some of the best sake in Japan (ask anyone from Akita).
I remember its subtle flavor in sips from a special sake cup wrapped in cherry tree
bark. The cup is unique to this region.

Chibi - simple_sigh_man

Handicraft from Cherry Tree Bark : 桜皮細工

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winter is leaving -
my badger finally
opens his eyes





© Photo and Haiku Gabi Greve, 2005

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Related words

***** Seasons beginning


***** The Asian Lunar Calendar. Reference



. . . . SPRING
the complete SAIJIKI


. . . . SUMMER
the complete SAIJIKI



. . . . AUTUMN
the complete SAIJIKI



. . . . WINTER
the complete SAIJIKI


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Wakare - Parting with friends or seasons
. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .

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