About Haiku

Introduction

Haiku (or "Hokku" = Starting verse of a verse chain) is the shortest literature form in the world. "Haiku" is of Japanese origin and can be translated to "short verse". It has been a traditional poetic form in Japan for 400 years, during which time haiku lyrics entered other languages and world literature.

The Structure of Haiku

In the Japanese original a haiku consists of three lines, which together contain a maximum of 17 syllables - approximately the dimension of a breath. The syllable distribution is 5-7-5. Rhymes dont play any role, but alliterations, assonances, and a certain rythm of syllables are part of the structure. Haiku as found in other languages, seldom fit into this scheme of rythm and limitation to three lines.

The Japanese language favours the above conditions. Japanese is organized into syllables. In Japanese the letters Hiranga and Katakana a sign always describes/means a syllable instead of a single letter. Each syllable consists of a consonant followed by a vowel, and the number of syllables is strictly limited (less than 100). There are only a few non-syllable sounds (vowels and "n").

Because of the limited number of syllables it is usual for a word to have more than one meaning, which has to be understood within the context. To keep the authenticity of a Japanese haiku is hard to do because delicacy and ambiguity are not easy to translate into another language. So one has to get the idea of the haiku and then describe it with the words of the other language to get near to the original.

Good haiku are not dependent on the understanding of the Japanese language or on strict formal rules. The effect comes with the character of the contents - independent of the used language.

Historical

Poetry has always been something special in Japan. The haiku developed during the 16th and 17th century from the Renga, a string poem which is longer but has a similar syllabic form. The significant first verse of the Renga separated gradually, as several Hokku styles developed.

In the 17th century one of the most famous haiku writers, Bashu, established the haiku in the form and with the characteristic contents as it is still seen today. Some classical writers of the haiku poetry are Issa, Buson, Shiki, and Kikaku. Even today, Haiku poetry is still very lively inside and outside of Japan. In competitions and haiku magazines, composing of haiku is popular and everybody can do it.

Contents

A haiku is quite difficult to describe. Its three lines naturally prevent giving long explanations. Its concrete shortness makes over-blown descriptions ridiculous. The first two lines prepare the reader for the last line, which leads him or her quickly into reality. It urges the reader to take part in the creation of the work. Therefore, it gains a depth that cannot be reached solely with words.

A haiku does not want to be great or famous, it is free of ambition, and any pedagogical aims. It does not obtrude upon the reader, but puts him or her directly into a situation or into thought. The haiku aims not to influence the reader, but react within and by means of him or her.

Bad haiku are simply irrelevant. Good haiku - in all their shortness - do not need to be explained. They react all alone,if one lets them do so. One should not do a haiku injustice by reading the three lines with false expectations. Try not to reflect upon the haiku automatically, nor see it as a "thing", but try to experience it without dissecting it intellectually. The choice of the words, formal rhythm, and other stylistical means are only approaches for an experience which can - strictly speaking - not be described.

Haiku cannot be read one after the other. The more you read the more you deaden them instead of experience them. These pages contain only a small selection of haiku, and not a long list. Explicit art which tries to explain its whole meaning, does not even mean as much as it says; it binds itself up in its own limits. The art of suggestive indication, on the contrary, is boundless - it is as open and deep as our spirit is able to make it.

Links

Haiku heute by Volker Friebel. Growing German Haiku collection.

Haiku-Seiten by Hans-Peter Krause. German haiku.

Haiku Theme Page with supplement the study of haiku and contain a lot of useful educational resources. Very good link list.

Haiku Freunde by the japanese haiku magazine "suien". Haiku in Englisch, Japanese and German, links and further informations.

Yosa Buson and his followers: Haiku and Painting. Very elaborate informations about the great poet Buson. Many pictures of original materials.

The Daily Yomiuri English version of a japanese newspaper. Easy to read.