Haiku Inspirations: Poems and Meditations on Nature and Beauty

by Tom Lowenstein, Victoria James

Brimming with insights, and featuring sparkling new translations of 50 of the most superb haikus ever written, this opulent collection captures the spirit of the form and opens up its beauty to a whole new audience. Haiku emerged within a great flowering of Japanese arts a thousand years ago, including calligraphy and ink painting, and haiku blended with them to create poetry that is as close to the visual image as language can come. These gloriously illustrated pages trace haiku’s most profound, thought-provoking, and imaginative themes, including: Zen Buddhism; the life of the poet; the Japanese court; the cities of Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo, where the style flourished; the beauty of the landscape; the status of women; and the ever-fascinating samurai.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Japan, Essays

244 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Tom Lowenstein was an English poet, ethnographer, teacher, cultural historian and translator. Beginning his working life as a school teacher, he visited Alaska in 1973 and went on to become particularly noted for his work on Inupiaq (north Alaskan Eskimo) ethnography, conducting research in Point Hope, Alaska, between 1973 and 1988. His writing also encompasses several collections of poetry, as well as books related to Buddhism. Since 1986, Lowenstein lived and continued teaching in London.

Reviews

[P.J. Bayliss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite being beautifully presented in full color and with plenty of illustrations, this book didn't quite deliver it's full course to my less than discerning palette. I was left almost empty of any inspiration on offer, although quite satiated with historic facts about Japanese culture.

'Haiku Inspirations: Poems & Meditations' is crammed with pages of interesting facts, historic stories, and cultural learnings. It's well researched, but sadly presented in a way that stifles any meditative imagination process. And the Haiku content?; merely a spice that's dabbled upon selective pages throughout the volume.

If looking for inspiration, odds are you'll benefit from being the zone prior hand. However, if you indulge in the rich historic research it offers, this book might possibly incite a hunger for more.

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has lots of colors and quite nice illustrations. I'm not so sure why it is called Haiku Inspirations as it is much more history than inspiration. There were some nice haikus as well and it is a well-researched book, one that is very interesting to read.

I didn't find inspiration in this or even meditations. It was still an enjoyable read.

[Emerson Vieira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma introdução à cultura e história do Japão. Não se trata de um livro profundo, mas serve para inspirar-nos com a beleza das imagens e dos poemas contidos nele. Nesse sentido, o livro é interessante porque traz a essência do haiku e o aborda de maneira completa, não apenas poética, mas também cultural e espiritual.

[ej · Rating 5 out of 5]

for what it is honestly like 4.5/5 to 4.75/5 i would’ve maybe enjoyed more haiku thrown throughout, i was originally sad it wasn’t just a haiku compilation but tbh am so glad it is what it is cause the history n context really helped to enlighten n widen my understandin of haiku n all it does!! a very enjoyable read!!

[Janita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well curated combination of cultural notes along with haiku selections.

I have read many books about Japan, but I still learned some new things. Lightly written and informative and a beautiful book to hold in your hand...very nice quality paper and selection of images and prints etc.

[Yolanda Morros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un maridaje japonés sobre su historia, su cultura y los haikus.
El libro tiene bonitas ilustraciones, es una edición muy cuidada.

[Scipio Africanus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting little book on Japanese culture and its relation to haiku.

[Chris Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Square book of haiku
History art and beauty
Lovely Summer eve

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book though not the best writing It also more about the history and culture of Japan then with Haiku.

[Laci · Rating 3 out of 5]

The haiku contained within are all so lovely and provoking, though there aren’t nearly as many as I expected. I hadn’t realized this book contained more historical information about Japan and Japan’s history than it had haiku, but it was very interesting to read and the illustrations in this book are also quite lovely. I found myself wanting to cut this book up (respectfully) to make collages and art with.

[ʋɛʀօռɨƈǟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

la historia de Japón a traves de los haikus

[Buffy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't just a collection of haiku poetry, but went into how a haiku is constructed and the many influences of haiku poetry- Basho, Buson, and Issa. It amazes me that these poets spent years honing their craft on something that looks so simple as haiku. However, haiku isn't as simple as it appears, and there are rules to haiku. 📜
Particularly, the Japanese Heinen period was very influential to haiku, and Japanese culture in general. This book goes on to discuss Japanese society, court life, meditation, transience, Shinto and Buddhism, nature, symbols of Japanese culture, calligraphy, kabuki dance, and even Zen gardens and tea ceremony. 🍵
Anyone with interest in Japan, travel, or poetry would love this book. I've always loved Japanese culture- when I was 6, my mom took me to a world culture day, where I learned to eat with chopsticks and learned the art of Japanese paper folding. It really left an impression on me and these are some of the things I enjoy today. 👘

[Gwendolyn Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully conceived book that takes you through the history of Japan in short bite-sized paragraphs in order to help you appreciate Haikus and their place in Japanese culture. I particularly enjoyed the paintings and artworks featured in it too. Felt as if I was transported into a different world and I feel inspired to begin composing poetry myself.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for some haiku, this book may be a huge disappointment.
Even though there are some included, there's much more content about Japanese tradition than haiku themselves.

It's a nice book though, the edition is really beautiful and if you're not a great fan of this kind of poetry you might actually prefer to have some intermissions between each piece.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very informative as far as the history of Japan and haiku. I would have preferred more haiku and less history,
but the book did whet my interest to explore the migration of Buddhism from India to China to Japan. Anyone interested in ancient Japan will find this book to be of value.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. I only wish it had more haiku. The prose parts were brief and interesting, but there sure were a lot of them. The Haiku book I got in my college days had a lot more haiku, although less prose and less bright color. I will put the books side by side.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, bedtime book. Brief overview of Japanese history and culture, highlighting various Japanese poets. I learned there is not just haiku in Japanese poetry. There are cousins.

[Diego · Rating 2 out of 5]

Este libro es de aspectos generales japoneses, los Haikus no son más que ilustraciones a lo largo de él.

[Badb · Rating 3 out of 5]

me hubiera gustado que tuviera más haikus,pero aún así, es un libro muy bien cuidado, una edición preciosa.

[Tyrean · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent blend of history, culture, and haiku - a good beginning to understanding haiku fully.

[Deborah Schuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful book gives an overview of japanese history/culture and how it has affected haiku over the centuries.

[Melba Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully done. I love Haiku and poetry in general. This book is full of poems and meditations on nature and the illustrations, artwork and photographs are as soothing as the poetry.