Haiku and Samurai Death Poems

(from medium.com)

The haiku is one of the most recognizable poetry forms in the world. It consists of seventeen syllables arranged in three lines: five syllables, seven syllables, and five syllables again. Many people, poetry enthusiasts and laypersons alike, know that haiku is a Japanese form of poetry. However, the history and cultural legacy of haiku are also important to consider. This applies even more when speaking about the Edo period — the era in which haiku became a revered form of poetry.

Haiku has its roots in the 13th century with an older form of poetry called renga. Renga was a much longer style of oral poetry that was often a hundred stanzas long, also composed syllabically. The opening lines of these poems were known as haikai or hokku. In the 16th century, these opening lines broke away to become short-form poems in and of themselves.

As a general rule, haiku describe a brief moment in time, usually with significant nature symbolism. These poems often incorporate provocative and colorful images and are meant to leave the reader with a sense of enlightenment. The ideal haiku can be read in a single breath and imparts great insight.

The haiku form was often used for death poems, which were written by samurai and other literate people just before their deaths. Here’s an example written by Matsuo Basho (1644–1694), famed 17th-century haiku poet:

On a journey, ill: My dream goes wandering Over withered fields.

Tabi ni yande Yume wa kareno o kakemeguru

Haiku will be one of the poetry forms featured in Tale of Ronin. The samurai class was expected to be educated and well-studied in literature and other scholarly pursuits, including poetry. Even the most destitute ronin players meet on the road may be able to compose a haiku on the spot.

https://medium.com/@taleofronin/haiku-and-samurai-death-poems-7ace71aa2288

Seiza sitting

 

This way of sitting is called “seiza” in Japan. This style of sitting is required for traditional Japanese events and formal ceremonies today. In fact, samurai and ninja generally did not sit this way long time ago. Because seiza does not allow you to move quickly. It means that it takes time to move to standing and attacking movements. However, to put it the other way around, Seiza indicates that there is no intention to attack. Therefore, it is said that subordinates began “seiza” in front of the shogun and high-ranking samurai from someday. Today, it has become a common way of sitting in formal situations in Japan.

However, seiza is difficult if you are not used to it. If you come to Japan, you don't have to force yourself to do seiza. Don't worry, it's not rude if you can't do seiza. 

Ronin: the Unemployed Samurai

from medium.com

The samurai is one of the most iconic figures in Japanese history, but the ronin is one of his only rivals. Ronin, meaning “wave man,” refers to masterless samurai who were no longer retainers serving a daimyo. Although warriors had served daimyo — and lost them — during most of Japanese history, ronin were especially prominent in the years between 1168 and 1868. Tale of Ronin takes place during the early Edo period, when it was very easy to become a ronin… and very difficult to become a retainer again.

During the Sengoku period, Japan had been in a state of near-constant warfare. This led many daimyo to gather large numbers of retainers for safety and conquest. However, the birth of the Edo period meant the end of that turbulent age. Daimyo no longer needed so many retainers, so being hired as a samurai became difficult. At the same time, the Tokugawa Bakufu reduced the territory of daimyo families and outright abolished many of them. This created a massive population of wandering ronin.

Ronin were still considered samurai by the Edo period’s standards, meaning that they could legally kill people and were permitted to carry swords. But they lacked the stability of a clan, a fief, and, most importantly, a lord to serve. In a time when the samurai code of Bushido was being made into a comprehensive system of ethics, ronin were left to wander across the land like waves. Although the ronin has been mythologized as a one-man army carving his way through impossible battles, actual ronin often didn’t fare well in the changing world. Many of them were poor, feared, and utterly alone.

https://medium.com/@taleofronin/ronin-the-unemployed-samurai-ec9240f7063