January 27, 2011

Haiga 487 Santoka haiku


Haiku by Taneda, Santoka. Artwork by myself.
The haiga shows Santoka's silhouette in traveling monk attire with kasa(hat).
The black and white version was once used for a book published at Jim Kacian's Red Moon Press.
When I was making this haiga, I thought the use of gradation was suitable to show the mood of it.
I did the translation myself, which I am not sure if appropriate. Any suggestion welcomed.

6 comments:

Devika Jyothi said...

'silhouette from behind' -- there was little confusion...but it conveys his walk into the drizzle,

and loved it, I think it speaks of the monk-poet in depth....not commenting on the master he was...and lovely representation by you, Kuni-san :)

wishes,
devika

Gwil W said...

The translation is the best.
It's suitably aliterative to capture the mood. Well done!

Johannes S. H. Bjerg said...

Love this haiga!!! I think you have cought something essential concerning Santoka in this haiga. Beautiful!

kuni_san said...

Thank you all.
The original haiku in Japanese is a bet confusing. My interpretation is this: Santoka, however a good poet, considered himself as a looser in the society. He probably saw someone walkng in fornt of him in the drizzle, disappearing, and imagined himself as if vanishing in the haze of drizzle, too.

bandit said...

I think you were concerned that there are not exactly two distinct 'images' in your translation?

I only speak English, and I find the message to be very well written. The artwork is beautiful and evocative.

Might you have concern that the piece overall may tell too much, or directly convey too much emotion? Although ...

I admit to not knowing Santoka that well, though i feel very strong associations with his verses. Would it be true to say that he does not juxtapose images in his poetry that much?

I ask these question of myself as much as to you, kuni san.

kuni_san said...

I think you are right about juxtaposition. Santoka's haiku is like one short remark.