The Art of the Haiku: A Brief Guide
The Art of the Haiku: A Brief Guide
A Quick History
The haiku originated in 17th-century Japan. It evolved from a much longer form of collaborative poetry called renga. The opening verse of a renga, known as the hokku, was eventually spun off into its own independent poem.
The most famous master of the craft was Matsuo BashÅ (1644–1694), who transformed the haiku from a simple word game into a serious form of spiritual and emotional expression. It wasn't until the late 19th century that the name "haiku" was officially coined by the writer Masaoka Shiki.
The Traditional Rules
While modern haiku can be flexible, the "Golden Rules" for a traditional haiku are:
The Structure: It consists of three lines with a syllable structure of 5-7-5.
The Kigo (Season Word): Traditionally, a haiku should contain a word that triggers a specific season (e.g., "blossoms" for spring or "heavy frost" for winter).
The Kireji (Cutting Word): In English, this is usually represented by a bit of punctuation (like a dash or ellipsis) that creates a pause or a "cut" between two contrasting images.
Focus on Nature: Most haikus focus on a brief, fleeting moment in the natural world or a specific "sensory" experience.
