honkadori

sumi-e (for ukiyo)

a frog jumps

splash of ink

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ink_and_wash_painting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo

The above haiku is an example of honkadori which is a Japanese social tradition of linking the literary and historical past into a textual object. In this case the famous haiku by Matsuo Basho:

old pond

a frog jumps in

the sound of water

Basho

Here's another honkadori I did based on the same Basho haiku:

new pool

an ape jumps in

the sound of jungle

This concept is difficult for non-Japanese ('foreigners') to understand. Thinking honkadori is simple plagiarism. Here's an item which examines the difference:

old pond

a frog climbs out

sound of puffing

http://simplyhaiku.theartofhaiku.com/autumn2010/chenarticle.htm

jp

05-09-11

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