The Spirit of Japanese Poetry

by Yoné Noguchi

THE SPIRIT
OF
JAPANESE POETRY

The Wisdom of the East Series
Edited by
L. CRANMER-BYNG
Dr. S. A. KAPADIA

THE SPIRIT OF JAPANESE POETRY

WISDOM OF THE EAST

THE SPIRIT OF
JAPANESE POETRY

 

BY YONE NOGUCHI

 

 

LONDON
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.
1914

Note.—The cover design of this book represents the Cuckoo in connection with the Japanese Uta poem which will be found on page 30.

 

All Rights Reserved

CONTENTS

1. PAGE

2. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   9

3. I

4. Japanese Poetry ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   15

5. II

6. The Japanese Hokku Poetry ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   33

7. III

8. No: the Japanese Play of Silence ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   54

9. IV

10. The Earliest Japanese Poetry ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    71

11. V

12. The Poets of Present Japan ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    90

13. VI

14. Some Specimens ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    112

TO

ARTHUR SYMONS

THE POET

Out of the deep and the dark,
A sparkling mystery, a shape,
Something perfect,
Comes like the stir of the day;
One whose breath is an odour,
Whose eyes show the road to stars,
The breeze on his face,
The glory of Heaven on his back.
He steps like a vision hung in air
Diffusing the passion of eternity;
His abode is the sunlight of morn,
The music of eve his speech;
In his sight
One shall turn from the dust of the grave
And move upward to the woodland.
Yone Noguchi.

EDITORIAL NOTE

The object of the Editors of this series is a very definite one. They desire above all things that, in their humble way, these books shall be the ambassadors of good-will and understanding between East and West—the old world of Thought and the new of Action. In this endeavour, and in their own sphere, they are but followers of the highest example in the land. They are confident that a deeper knowledge of the great ideals and lofty philosophy of Oriental thought may help to a revival of that true spirit of Charity which neither despises nor fears the nations of another creed and colour.

L. CRANMER-BYNG.
S. A. KAPADIA.

Northbrook Society,

21 Cromwell Road,

S. Kensington, S.W.