Notes on Japanese Death Poetry
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ORIGINAL: https://medium.com/@brennanbrown/notes-on-japanese-death-poetry-ccfc52d6acf7
The sun shone brightly through my window, its rays like daggers of productivity as I began my day. Every morning, I strive to make the most of my writing -- Attempting to do the most I can in every moment, no matter how fleeting any day may be. For when we are gone, our words will continue to live on, telling stories of our life here on Earth.
As I sit here at my small wooden desk, the smell of fresh ink floating through the air, my fingers start to move. Moving with the ease of a professional, the certainty of a permanent mark on a now empty page. I glance out my window and I'm caught in a daydream, of a much larger picture. Of a world filled with stories, of lives that have been touched by these words. The world of writing a meaningful piece, as small and simple as it is, felt much bigger, loomed ahead of me in an immense, overwhelming way. I wanted to write consistently and capture the beauty and meaning of life through my writing. But how? I thought.
One day, while browsing at a local bookstore in the south of Calgary, I stumbled upon a small volume titled "Japanese Death Poems." It was a cold winter evening, and the snow had covered the city in a serene white blanket. Despite being surrounded by walls of books, I felt lost and purposeless in my cozy living room. As I flipped through the pages of the book, I became increasingly intrigued and began to read.
Japanese death poetry, or jisei, is a genre of verse that originated in medieval Japan. Traditionally, these poems were composed by samurai warriors, monks, and other members of the aristocracy in their final moments of life. The practice of writing death poems became widespread during the Edo period (1603-1868), and by the 18th century, it had become a formalized tradition.
The purpose of these poems was to encapsulate a person's entire life philosophy in a few short lines, to express their final thoughts and emotions before departing this world. In Japanese culture, death is viewed as a natural and inevitable part of life, and writing a death poem was seen as a way of preparing for one's own death and accepting the impermanence of all things.
As I read through the collection of poems, I was struck by their beauty and simplicity. Each poem was like a tiny window into the soul of its author, a glimpse into their innermost thoughts and feelings. Some were whimsical and playful, while others were solemn and reflective. All of them, however, conveyed a sense of profound acceptance and peacefulness in the face of death.
One poem, by the samurai Yoshitsune, read:
"Life's first dew,
falling on the dying,
the morning glory."
Another, by the poet Issa, went:
"From this world
I depart,
flowers will be
my only memento."
As I read these words, I felt a sense of clarity and purpose that had eluded me for so long. In the face of death, these poets had found meaning and beauty in even the simplest things, in the morning dew and the blooming flowers. Their words reminded me that life is fleeting and precious, and that every moment should be savored and appreciated.
Writing for the afterlife -- for however long a person can leave impressions in this world. I realized that, no matter what I write, I can't live forever, but I can write in such a way that will make a lasting impression. Every second I'm alive is created out of a backbone of writing, of soul searching and of being part of a creative community. The message of meaning, not just death and sorrow, within these poems has been profoundly inspirational in my writing. "Death poetry" might sound like a bit of an oxymoron, but these were words of parting written by samurai and monks during their last moments. The writers would reflect on their accomplishments as they prepared to make the transition to the afterlife, and every word was imbued with their deepest desires. One such poem resonated deeply with me:
"No single thing on earth is greater than life and death,
Both are companions for the journey,
I cast my net into the sea of eternity,
To catch no more than the great affair of life and death."
~Ashikaga Yoshimasa
The death poem is powerful, and it made me appreciate life for the time limited, precious resource it was. I knew I had to make every moment count. I also had to take action and make sure I was surrounded by people who shared my passion of writing.
I try my best to make each mark, each character, each word count. To spread kindness, and hopefully use the power of writing to tell stories, to write my truth and inspire others to do the same. After all, there's nothing more meaningful than writing from the heart. So, I take in the day, the smells of fresh ink and the promise of a new story, and I won't give up until I have something to say that I can leave behind, some wisdom that lasts beyond the end of my days.