Ukiyo parabolic
Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element. Parabolic ultimately from Greek parabol, comparison; see parable. Sense 2, from parabola.] Parable a succinct story, prose or verse, which illustrates one or more lessons.The Floating World of old Edo (Ukiyo) flourished in a new unification of Japan which had brought prosperity and peace to that previously conflicted jigsaw nation. Just like the 1960's fluorescence, as the post-war world bounced back from depletion, Nippon culture blossomed in its new-found peaceful prosperity. The people were glad. They still had to work hard, perhaps even harder than before. But, they also played hard; albeit discretely and euphemistically - as is their way. Just like us, they wanted to drift away their survival pressures. And did they? Yes they did, and with gusto! They slid down the proverbial snake, slowly but surely into nature's decadence.
The term [浮世 Floating World] is also an ironic allusion to homophone "Sorrowful World"
( 憂き世 ), the earthly plane of death and rebirth from which Buddhists sought release.
[PIC]
The Floating World was a parody of mystic transcendence and an escape into its shadow, formalised fantasy. At least for a little while.
[PIC]
There is a parable in all this. Or rather, there is a parable which has various isotopes. These riffs on a theme are what this essay is all about. And how Ukiyo's parabolic isotopes relate to proper haiku and the people who would enjoy the latter's magic - if only they could get it right.
