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Quote by Reginald Horace Blyth

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The genius of haiku: readings from R.H. Blyth on poetry, life, and Zen

The Genius of Haiku is a compilation of readings that delve into the essence of haiku, a traditional form of Japanese poetry. The book features extracts from R.H. Blyth's extensive studies and commentary on the genre, offering insights into the poetic craft and its philosophical underpinnings. It includes discussions on the life and work of haiku poets, as well as reflections on the Zen principles that have influenced haiku's development and appreciation. more

Author

Reginald Horace Blyth
Reginald Horace Blyth

Reginald Horace Blyth was a British author renowned for his works on Japanese literature and culture. Born on December 3, 1898, in London, he spent much of his life in Japan, deeply involved in the study and promotion of Japanese literature. His significant contributions to the understanding of Japanese poetry and prose have made him one of the most influential Western scholars of Japanese literature. Blyth passed away on October 28, 1964. more

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“Peitaho Heavy rains fall on Yuyen, the northland kingdom of swallows. White pages of rain envelop the sky, and fishing boats off the Island of the Emperor Chin disappear on the ocean. Which way have they gone? More than a thousand years ago the mighty emperor Tsao Tsao cracked his whip and drove his army against the Tartars. He left us a poem: "Let us move east to the Stone Mountains." Today we still shiver in the autumn gale, in desolate winds, yet another man is in the world.”

“Poem for Liu Ya-tzu I cannot forget how in Canton we drank tea and in Chungking went over our poems when leaves were yellowing. Thirty-one years ago and now we come back at last to the ancient capital Peking. In this season of falling flowers I read your beautiful poems. Be careful not to be torn inside. Open your vision to the world. Don't say that waters of Kumming Lake are too shallow. We can watch fish better here than in the Fuchun River in the south.”