Gazing at the Moon: Buddhist Poems of Solitude

by Saigyō, Meredith McKinney (Translator)

A fresh translation of the classical Buddhist poetry of Saigyō, whose aesthetics of nature, love, and sorrow came to epitomize the Japanese poetic tradition.

Saigyō, the Buddhist name of Fujiwara no Norikiyo (1118–1190), is one of Japan’s most famous and beloved poets. He was a recluse monk who spent much of his life wandering and seeking after the Buddhist way. Combining his love of poetry with his spiritual evolution, he produced beautiful, lyrical lines infused with a Buddhist perception of the world.

Gazing at the Moon presents over one hundred of Saigyō’s tanka —traditional 31-syllable poems—newly rendered into English by renowned translator Meredith McKinney. This selection of poems conveys Saigyō’s story of Buddhist awakening, reclusion, seeking, enlightenment, and death, embodying the Japanese aesthetic ideal of mono no aware —to be moved by sorrow in witnessing the ephemeral world.

Genres: Poetry, Buddhism, Japan, Religion, Spirituality, Japanese Literature, Nature

135 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2021

About the author

Saigyō Houshi (西行 法師, 1119 – March 23, 1190) was a famous Japanese poet of the late Heian and early Kamakura period.

Born Satou Norikiyo (佐藤 義清) in Kyoto to a noble family, he lived during the traumatic transition of power between the old court nobles and the new samurai warriors. After the start of the Age of Mappō (1052), Buddhism was considered to be in decline and no longer as effective a means of salvation. These cultural shifts during his lifetime led to a sense of melancholy in his poetry. As a youth, he worked as a guard to retired Emperor Toba, but in 1140 at age 22, for reasons now unknown, he quit worldly life to become a monk, taking the religious name En'i (円位). He later took the pen name, "Saigyo" meaning Western Journey, a reference to Amida Buddha and the Western paradise. He lived alone for long periods in his life in Saga, Mt Koya, Mt Yoshino, Ise, and many other places, but he is more known for the many long, poetic journeys he took to Northern Honshuu that would later inspire Basho in his Narrow Road to the Interior. He was a good friend of Fujiwara no Teika. Some main collections of Saigyo's work are in the Sankashuu, Shin Kokin Wakashuu, and Shika Wakashū. He died in Hirokawa Temple in Kawachi Province (present-day Osaka Prefecture) at age 72.

Reviews

[Nikko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exquisite book. Saigyo had it all going for him but renounced a life of comfort and privilege for that of a wandering renunciant monk. Thank goodness for us he did. This incredible moving collection of tanka poetry has an immense capacity to move you, to inspire you to slow down, to pay attention. This is one i will revisit many times. Its that kind of book.

Note, i am associated with Shambhala Publications but this is a heartfelt and genuine review.

[Jared Gulian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is a must read for lovers of hermits, nature, and solitude.

Anyone who reads my reviews knows that I happen to have this thing about hermits--especially Japanese Buddhist monks who ‘turn from the world’ and go off to live in a mountain hut or as an itinerant monk, practicing a life of simplicity and austerity in connection to nature.

Recently I broke my back (no joke, will heal), so I'm using my broken back down time to catch up on some reading of the classic Buddhist hermits I haven’t yet read (as you do). That's what brought me to read this.

Saigyo is a famous monk from the 12th century who is still popular today in Japanese anime and manga (of course) He was in a powerful family and he was a guard for the retired emperor when he took Buddhist vows and left the trappings of the world behind on October 15 in the year 1140.

This book is full of poems on nature, solitude, the impermanent nature of the world, and Buddhist awakening. Beautiful.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saigyo’s ruminations as he spends time alone, contemplating. From being alone to water, and loneliness to his impending death.
#GoodreadsGiveaway

[Bill Yake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lucid Japanese life in tanka. Some true jewels here.

[Wendelle]

Reminiscent of haikus, these poems communicate the lingering melancholy and intimate awareness of nature that is to be found in self-imposed solitude

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first introduction to tanka poetry and so neat to see similarities in this famous medieval poet with later forms. His poetry seems more sincere than some other, maybe more courtly haiku?
The book made for lovely nighttime reading, although I would have loved more context, details, geographic information, seasonal calendar information etc.

[Fernanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutamente hermoso 💖

[Sem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since nowhere
can be home
let me live nowhere
in this scant hut
in this brief world

[Grand Logothete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding poetry of profoundly contemplative nature, drawing inspiration from seemingly unremarkable events and sights amidst an hermitage at the mountain woods, that induce stirring meditations on time, death, impermanence and beauty, instilling a sense of longing and heartache like few poets have ever achieved, all of this with a superb economy of wording and phrasing, that will appeal not only to fans of Japanese poetry, regardless of their preference for tanka, waka, haikai or haiku, but in all honesty to any reader with a soft spot for poetry of heightened awareness of the natural world and of mystic ecstasy alike.

The ingenuity and touching sensibility of Saigyo has luckily and thankfully been provided by Meredith McKinney, for which I will be forever grateful, given the extremely difficult task of finding now the earlier Burton Watson translation. A little, magnificent book which I will cherish for the remainder of my ephemeral existence and hold close to my heart.

[Xenia Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gazing at the Moon is a selection of tanka, sympathetically translated by Meredith McKinney, that begins when the poet turns his back on the society that had troubled him so much, and dedicates himself fully to the Buddhist journey. The poems are honest about his struggles and the sadness for the world he leaves behind. Many of these poems are taken from the collection 'Poems of a Mountain Home', translated by Burton Watson, where the tanka were arranged season by season and Saigyo's death poem appears in the very first chapter of the book: Spring. I found Meredith McKinney's order of the poems more in harmony with Saigyo's Buddhist journey and awakening. Arranged in sections of First Awakening, Leaving the World, Reclusion, Seeking, Finding, Looking and Awaiting Death we follow his journey as he becomes ever more at one with nature and in acceptance of death. Her translations also resonated more and her deep understanding of the journey Saigyo undertook all those years ago, shines through.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free as part of a Goodreads giveaway. I haven't read much poetry in the past, but I am trying to read more of it. I enjoyed these poems and the notes and information given by the translator.

Specifically, I liked how the poems were arranged into a type of narrative, starting at Saigyo's awakening and ending with his death. You get to see a small glimpse into his day to day life and yet also are able to grasp his mental and emotional growth as well.

I also was happy to see both the English translation and the original Japanese included for the poems. I can't read Japanese, but it still added to the reading by being able to see Saigyo's original syllable structure and word choice.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saigyō is one of Japan’s most famous and beloved poets and this translation brings new attention to his powerful work. He had the opportunity for a comfortable life of wealth and security, but instead chose to a recluse monk who spent much of his life wandering and writing poetry. He wrote tanka—traditional 31-syllable poems. This collection of poems is organized by subject, as Saigyō contemplates his reclusion, enlightenment and death, all the while finding deep meaning by looking at the moon. Highly recommended.

[John Fredrickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not know whether the poems contained in this book are technically haiku, but they are all very short works that engage the reader. Though there were a couple of poems which confused me, the bulk of these poems are gems that deserve reflection.

The translator McKinney does an extremely nice job at introducing the life of Saigyo and placing the poems in context with his life and experience. This is a very enjoyable book.

[Gigi Hendrickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very nice. I loved the simplicity of the poetry and the way we are brought directly to the essence of the moment. Reading this book brought me such peace, especially when reading outside. The emphasis of these little moments in nature was such a wonderful thing to read. Some powerful Buddhist messages laced in the poetry— probably more than I picked up on. Definitely a book anyone could pick up. Highly recommend.

[Rebeca F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a stunning collection, moving and simply beautiful.
The poems focus on nature, solitude, transience, death and the struggle to overcome the illusion of this life and achieve enlightenment. I just wish it would've been longer.

[Elsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and lovely 12th century contemplative poetry. Props to the translator!

[Nivedita · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Alone, I looked
at the morning glory
aware
how on that brief flower
lay still briefer dew"

[Irmakafsar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mükemmel

[gonza · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have sent my heart
long since
into the mountains
yet still this body
stays on in the sad world."

[ashabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely poems!

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

i know
that the moons light
shines less than perfect in this world
only because
my own eyes are clouded

i will push on
still deeper into the mountains
leaving no trail behind
seeking the place
where bad news cannot find me

[Brian Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read, and read a few years later again. Succinct, and deep.

[Karene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect pleasure to read.

[Jeff Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

These poems made me want to renounce the world and live simply in nature as a Buddhist monk. But unfortunately I'm self-isolating with Covid-19 in my Brooklyn apartment instead.