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From the beginning of recorded history, the Japanese borrowed heavily from the Chinese in their styles of literature and poetry - to the point of often references famous Chinese works for effect. For the Japanese it was not just about the words. It was the allusion to nature, the reference to certain animals. It also involved the color of the ink you chose, the style of parchment, the texture of the paper, and more. Yamamoto Tsunetomo was famous for saying, "When one is writing a letter, he should think that the recipinet will make it into a hanging scroll."
One of the first novels anywhere in the world was written by a woman, Shikibu Murasaki, during the Heian era. The Tale of Genji tells of life in Heian aristocarcy.
Also during the Heian era was poetess Shikibu Izumi. Poetry was well respected only if it worked on multiple levels, if it contained interesting allusions and nature-related meaning. One of my favorite poems involves the custom of men sneaking into a woman's chambers late at night to have a romantic interlude. Many gardens would have a water-rail set up to fill up with water and then empty it out with a quiet knocking sound. Shikibu writes:
"Summer night,
a rap at the gate,
a rap at the door ...
how hope answers
the water rail's knock."
In a well known exchange, Shikibu was sent a spray of orange blossoms by a man she was fond of, Prince Atsumichi. He didn't include any note with the flowers. Shikibu sent this note to the prince -
"Rather than recall
in these flowers
the fragrance of the past,
I would like to hear this nightingale's voice
to know if his song is as sweet."
This is a great poem to explore. First, she alludes to the fact that she'd already had a relationship with the Prince's brother. She directly elicits a response from the prince. She also refers to a famous poem which reads -
"In the scent of these orange blossoms waiting for May,
I find the long-vanished fragrance of his robes."
Haiku
Haiku evolved over the years as a 5 syllable - 7 syllable - 5 syllable form which was supposed to feel spontaneous and express the "So!" feeling. One of the most famous haiku written was by the master, Basho. It reads -
"The old pond:
a frog jumps in;
Oh! the sound of the water."
Some people translate that last line simply as "Ker-Plunk!"
