Kigo from a Japanese Saijiki
October, 2007
October, 2007
Ancient Japanese believed a snake goes into hibernation at Autumn Equinox and comes
out to the ground at Spring equinox. Hebi Ana Ni Iru (snake into a hole) is an autumn kigo
and Hebi Ana O Deru (snake out of a hole) is a spring kigo. Sometimes on a sunny, warm
November day, one may encounter a snake which did not enter the hole (or came out to
the ground due to the warm air). Actually, in Japanese, this kind of snake, Ana Madoi
("ana" means "hole" and "madoi" means "confused") is more interesting kigo. But I am
afraid to say "confused snake" does not work in English... Snake itself is a summer kigo.
out to the ground at Spring equinox. Hebi Ana Ni Iru (snake into a hole) is an autumn kigo
and Hebi Ana O Deru (snake out of a hole) is a spring kigo. Sometimes on a sunny, warm
November day, one may encounter a snake which did not enter the hole (or came out to
the ground due to the warm air). Actually, in Japanese, this kind of snake, Ana Madoi
("ana" means "hole" and "madoi" means "confused") is more interesting kigo. But I am
afraid to say "confused snake" does not work in English... Snake itself is a summer kigo.
Snake Into A Hole
snake into a hole--
postcards of the Governor
at the souvenir shop
Fay Aoyagi
postcards of the Governor
at the souvenir shop
Fay Aoyagi
All rights reserved
(c) Fay Aoyagi 2006-2007
(c) Fay Aoyagi 2006-2007
haiku, translation and photo by Fay Aoyagi
sample haiku from Japanese saijiki
(I used "autumn snake" for ana madoi below)
(I used "autumn snake" for ana madoi below)
ana madoi suna no nagaruru gotoku kiyu
autumn snake
disappears
like the drifting sand
Akihiko Miyatsu (1)
autumn snake
disappears
like the drifting sand
Akihiko Miyatsu (1)
kyou mo miru kinou no michi no ana madoi
today, too I see
the autumn snake
at yesterday's road
Fusei Tomiyasu (2)
today, too I see
the autumn snake
at yesterday's road
Fusei Tomiyasu (2)
hebi ana ni iru kotoshi mou tabi wa nashi
snake into a hole
no more traveling for me
for the rest of this year
Rinka Ohno (2)
snake into a hole
no more traveling for me
for the rest of this year
Rinka Ohno (2)
(1) Gendai Saijiki (Modern Saijiki) edited by Tota Kaneko, Momoko Kuroda, Ban'ya
Natsuishi, Seisei Shuppan, Tokyo, 1887
(2) Dai Saijiki (Comprehensive Saijiki) edited by Shuoshi Mizuhara, et al, Kodansha, Tokyo,
1982
Natsuishi, Seisei Shuppan, Tokyo, 1887
(2) Dai Saijiki (Comprehensive Saijiki) edited by Shuoshi Mizuhara, et al, Kodansha, Tokyo,
1982
