wandering
Wandering About In The Living Wind
by haiku crossroads on Monday, May 30, 2011 at 2:53am
Here are some ideas to do with wandering about in the living wind (furyu), and with a certain relationship (fugu) to the flow of events encountered --perhaps recorded by a haiku-- all along the way . . .
Bridge, Stourton Gardens, Mere, Wiltshire : May, 2011
FUGA NO MAKOTO
When Basho talks about fuga no makoto, this is normally interpreted as poetic sincerity. However, makoto also means truths, or true words, or true things. In ancient times makoto referred to man's spiritual state where shin (truth), zen (goodness) and bi (beauty) were integrated. In terms of poets, makoto is that which springs from their magokoro (true heart, or soul). Haiku is certainly capable of (local, particular) truths. Sometimes it is capable of universal truths and that is when great haiku poems are born. - Takiguchi Susumu
Quotes below from: Wabi Sabi for Writers by Richard R. Powell . . .
FUGA
The elegance of poetry. Fuga is made up of two root words: ‘Fu’ which means the habits and manners of the common folk and ‘Ga’ which refers to the grace or gracefulness of ceremonies at court. Ga is in the qualities achieved by a poet who is experienced, recognized, and advanced in artistic studies. English words that convey a similar quality are ‘cultured’ or ‘civilized’. The renowned Japanese court poets tried to express ga with idealized and romanticized images. Thus ga is sometimes thought of as artistic and spiritual purity. With this in mind we might translate fuga as ‘common ways with grace’, or ‘blue-jean eloquence’ or even ‘spiritual art grounded in reality.’ Writers who wished to create literature that was fuga would follow furyu and retire to nature for solitary contemplation.
FURYU
Literally ‘wind and stream’ or ‘in the way of the wind and stream.’ A way of living that gradually expands your sense of beauty, taste, and aesthetic appreciation. The poet Yosa Buson re-introduced Basho’s concept of furyu after it had fallen out of use. A master of both poetry and painting, and a leader of the haiku revival that occurred between 1765 and 1785, Buson refocused Basho’s concept in what he called ‘the principle of rizoku,’ which meant ‘transcending the ordinary.’ To achieve transcendence Buson said a poet should study classical verse, distance herself from the realms of commerce and competition, and contemplate the simple beauties of nature.
One of the key concepts on the way of elegance is "furyu." Basho discovered in his life of reading and thinking and wandering and teaching and writing that all of these things contributed to Furyu which literally means "in the way of the wind and stream". It is putting yourself in the traffic, launching yourself into the action, not necessarily as a player, but deliberately, as the eyes and ears and taste buds and sense of smell. Furyu is a powerful tool that shows you what you like, and also what you love.
Basho adopted Furyu as his central attitude and orientation and found that it generated inspiration, poetry, and enlightenment. An ancient Japanese word with roots in the Chinese language, Furyu describes a stance or approach that puts a person on the path of elegance. If you would like to learn more about how to develop Furyu in your life, about how to naturalize your creative activities and find transcendence through harmony with nature, then Wabi Sabi for Writers if for you.
Check Richard's informative site
Following quote from: Zen Buddhism : a History: Japan by Heinrich Dumoulin, James W. Heisig, Paul F. Knitter . . .
Those who comprehend fuga ['poetic spirit'] follow nature ['the universe'] and [so] befriend the four seasons. In whatever they see, they behold the flower. In whatever they think, they think the moon. Those to whom a form is not a flower are barbarians. Those whose thoughts are not the moon are like animals. Depart from barbarism and leave the beast behind. Follow nature and return to nature. - Matsuo Basho (Udotsu Kiko)
Read more here (zip with text image files from Google Books sample - easier to read)
the wind! the clouds!
swallows in the blue!
why not?
— jp
There's more to say about furyu (quite a lot more!) - but we'll do that another time.
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21-10-11