Haiku Master Buson

by Yosa Buson, Edith Shiffert (Translation), Yuki Sawa (Translation)

Haiku Master Buson is the only translation of the work of this important haiku poet in English. Buson (1716–1783), along with Basho and Issa, is recognized as one of the three Japanese masters of the haiku. In addition to a large selection of haiku, the book also includes a selection of Buson’s prose and a critical introduction. Edith Shiffert is a poet who has lived in Kyoto, Japan, since the 1960s. Her most recent volume is titled Pathways. The late Yuki Sawa was a professor at Kyoto Seika University.

Genres: Poetry, Japan, Japanese Literature

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1978

About the author

Yosa Buson or Yosa no Buson (与謝蕪村) was a Japanese poet and painter from the Edo period. Along with Matsuo Bashō and Kobayashi Issa, Buson is considered among the greatest poets of the Edo Period.

Reviews

[Philip Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buson was without a doubt a haiku master, and every season of this book gave me something to ponder about the world around me. My only complaint is in the translation of the book; the kigo (season words), as well as several others, were translated literally almost every time, which made long strings of reading very grating. Seeing fifteen poems in a row starting with the same word or two words made me think that a lot more liberty and creativity could have been put into the translation. No fault of Buson's, but as a book, I think the cohesion and fluency could have been stronger. The prose section at the end was a nice added bonus that I wasn't expecting. :)

[Jerome Berglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential piece for every haiku lover's library!

There are a number of excellent collections out there of Basho and Issa, but to my knowledge a rather regrettable dearth of material readily available about the great master Buson, every bit their equal and worth appreciating and treasuring the many accomplishments of. This book, which includes besides translated poetry some exquisite and riveting articles and discussions on diverse topics relating to the art and traditions of Japanese poetry, history and seasonal expressions, is a must-read for anyone who enjoys haiku, painting, the rich language and aesthetics of Eastern art and literature. So happy I purchased this, one of the best things I've read in years!

[Israel Lawton · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the nature of poetry I find it impossible to respond to queries pertaining to my favorite poets, but if an emphatic and deranged individual were holding a gun to my head and conjoined me with a defibrillator to demand a hierarchy of my poetry preferences I feel
I would be obligated to place Yosa Buson at the top of the list. Haiku is perhaps my favorite art form in human history, and no one to my experience has composed words in this form with the skill of Buson. Perhaps the greatest poet of all time? Reading his verse, I find it impossible to feel otherwise.

[Rick Jackofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In the way of haikai you should not always adhere to the master's method. In every case you should be different, and in an instant, you should continue on without regard to wether you are being traditional or innovative."

[Kristine Thurston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful little volume in paperback. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in haiku.

[Patti K · Rating 4 out of 5]

An edition published in 2007 by White Pine Press, it
is an extensive look at the work of this great 18c Japanese poet.
Divided into seasonal sections plus a prose section at the
back. Exemplifying his rich nature poems is:
In evening wind--
water is slapping against
legs of a heron.

A delight to read. Recommend.

[CX Dillhunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

first Buson-only collection I've read, divided by traditional seasons, includes prose, long poems, letters + Yuki Sawa's insightful essay "Buson & His Writings"