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Sacred Poetry from Around the World

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Buddhist : Zen / Chan

18th Century

Japan
(East Asia)

Kobayashi Issa

Timeline (1763 - 1828)

Poems by Kobayashi Issa
Books - Links

Kobayashi Issa, Kobayashi Issa poetry, Buddhist, Buddhist poetry, Zen / Chan poetry, poetry, poetry

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Kobayashi Issa, or simply Issa, is one of the best known and appreciated haiku poets.

Issa was born in Kashiwabara, in what is now part of the Nagano Prefecture in Japan. His father was a farmer. Issa's mother died when the boy was very young and his father soon remarried. Issa's stepmother mistreated him and, when he was fourteen, Issa was sent to Edo (Tokyo) where he studied haiku.

Although he gained some notoriety for his poetry early on, he struggled to get by financially and had to travel and work hard until his fifties. When his father died, Issa had further troubles with his stepmother who prevented him from inheriting his father's property for some time. He eventually was able to claim his inheritance, however.

Though Issa's life was filled with struggles -- the death of his mother at an early age, the conflicts with his stepmother, his poverty, and the death of his own children -- his haiku tend to celebrate the serene joys and simple spiritual moments of life.

Poems by Kobayashi Issa

	Autumn wind
	Buddha Law
	by the light of graveside lanterns
	Don't weep, insects
	even poorly planted
	First firefly
	From burweed
	In my house
	In the cherry blossom's shade
	into morning-glories
	Just by being
	Mokuboji Temple
	Never forget:
	now begins
	Reflected
	rice seedlings
	spring begins
	stillness
	swatting a fly
	the distant mountain's
	Where there are humans
	mountain temple
	blown to the big river
	spring day
	serene and still
	without seeing sunlight
	Buddha's body

Recommended Books

	A Box of Zen: Haiku the Poetry of Zen, Koans the Lessons of Zen, Sayings the Wisdom of Zen, Edited by Manuela Dunn Mascetti / Edited by Timothy Hugh Barrett Amazon.com
	The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell Amazon.com
	The Poetry of Zen: (Shambhala Library), Edited by Sam Hamill / Edited by J. P. Seaton Amazon.com
	Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter, Translated by Lucien Stryk / Translated by Takashi Ikemoto Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Kobayashi Issa http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/koba.htm Brief biography on-line.
	Haiku of Kobayashi Issa http://haikuguy.com/issa/ An excellent website with a searchable archive of more than 7,000 of Issa's haiku translated by David Lanoue, daily haiku email, and more. Worth a visit!

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Kobayashi Issa

Daily Poem Email

Support the Poetry Chaikhana

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Support
the Poetry Chaikhana