Zen and Haiku: How Zen Buddhism Shaped Japanese Poetry

Introduction

Zen tradition focuses on the commonality and simplicity of life, suggesting that enlightenment is available to those who are open to it. Like Zen philosophy, haiku focuses on that which is simple and easily recognized by mankind. Haiku is a form of meditation or reflection strongly influenced by Zen tradition that can be used to attain enlightenment and simple understanding. Zen tradition has deeply influenced much of Japanese history, from philosophy to art. Among the art forms that Zen has influenced most significantly is the art of haiku. Zen teachings had a profound influence on the art of haiku in Japan prior to the Tokugawa era.

Zen traditions in Japan encouraged the pursuit of natural awareness and an unmediated experience of the world — a sentiment expressed in much of the haiku created prior to the end of the Tokugawa era. Much haiku written during this time reflects the notion that what occurs in life and within the mind should be unmediated, a reflection of simple awareness rather than of judgment or analysis.

This paper examines how Zen traditions influenced early haiku by encouraging the pursuit of natural awareness and simplicity without intervention. Suzuki supports the idea that Zen traditions influenced early haiku by encouraging simplicity in his work Zen & Japanese Culture. This paper reviews the methods that early haiku poets used to reflect the idea that what occurs in life and within the mind should be presented rather than interpreted. These ideas and the emphasis on Zen's influence on haiku in Japan — and how connected the tradition of haiku is with Zen philosophy — are discussed in greater depth below.

Zen Philosophy and Its Core Tenets

Early haiku often recognized the relevance Zen tradition had to one's happiness and joy in life. Much haiku written in Japanese tradition prior to the Tokugawa era reflects the positive and natural elements of life common to all mankind. To understand how haiku and Zen are interrelated and how one influenced the other, it is important first to understand the historical origins and traditions of each. Suzuki (1961) defines Zen in its essence as "the art of seeing into the nature of one's own being," providing a tool that can free mankind from bondage and release him to freedom (p. 2).

Zen is a form of Buddhist philosophy that Japanese Buddhists have followed for centuries on their path toward enlightenment. Even in modern times, Zen influences much of Eastern tradition, practice, and thought. Zen philosophers believe that Zen allows liberation from suffering and liberates the energy stored within mankind in a natural and health-promoting manner (Suzuki, 1970). Zen tradition has influenced many art forms, but is perhaps most influential in the art of haiku.

Zen philosophy focuses on the importance of simple living, solitude, and meditation, and on the impermanence of all that exists in the world. Adopting Zen morals, one must assume that the simple path in life is the one filled with the greatest reward. Zen philosophy concentrates on achieving enlightenment, wherein one recognizes the Buddha nature and sees that this tendency exists in everyone (Lieberman, 2005). Enlightenment, according to Zen tradition, is possible by simply acknowledging that which is and recognizing that interpretation or analysis of events is not necessary.

Zen philosophy suggests that eternity exists in the present moment and one need only recognize it rather than seek out something new (Lieberman, 2005). Zen tradition holds that it is useless and absurd for mankind to attempt to control nature or anything in nature. Interestingly, modern Western thought is filled with stories of man's struggles to overcome and control nature (Lieberman, 2005). Not so with Zen, which encourages mankind not to worry but rather to accept and remain compassionate toward all living things.

The Nature and Structure of Haiku

Haiku is an art form and a type of poetry that typically uses nature as its primary theme and devotes itself to expressing inspiration drawn from nature (Bieler, 1981). Typically, haiku is verse using only a small number of words arranged in seventeen rhythmic syllables broken down into a 5-7-5 pattern (Bieler, 1981). Much early haiku includes a word depicting the season. Japanese haiku is extremely popular worldwide.

Drawing heavily from natural philosophies including Zen, Japanese haiku was crafted clearly and without metaphor or personification. Instead, most images depicted in early haiku were clear, written as succinctly as possible without interpretation or unnecessary reflection (Bieler, 1981). An example of early haiku by Basho, a leading figure in Zen-influenced haiku, is as follows:

Underneath the eaves
A blooming large hydrangea
Overbrims its leaves. — Basho (Yasuda, 1973)

Haiku in this form is a simple reflection of that which is. It demands the truth and naturalness of objects. This idea is a direct reflection of much early Zen tradition, which also demands truth and the acceptance of the natural state of objects or events. Zen tradition encourages simple reflection and commentary rather than interpretation. Here the hydrangea is described as overbrimming, suggesting something positive and bountiful. Haiku is often highly aesthetic — a natural result of anything that is artful or beautiful.

Haiku often focuses on representing single objects without commentary or any presentation beyond what is necessary to reveal an object as it is, without over-representing it (Yasuda, 1973). This is part of the reason that haiku is so simple in nature. Excessive verse or passages would lend themselves to further interpretation or abstraction, which may distort the natural order or simplicity of things. The point is to present rather than describe objects, as excessive description invites interpretation and excessive subjectivity.

Suzuki suggests that art can depict the spirit (Suzuki, 1970). This is reflected in many ways, including in the art of haiku — which leads naturally to a discussion of how Zen is reflected in and influences the traditions of haiku.

Conclusion

One may argue that Zen and haiku are intimately entwined. Haiku takes on much of the philosophic tradition presented in early Zen philosophy, and many have gone as far as to say that all haiku is a reflection of Zen tradition and philosophy.

Zen influenced haiku traditions in Japan in many ways, particularly by encouraging natural awareness of the processes of the world through simple observation and meditation. Suzuki (1970) clearly supports the relationship between Zen philosophy and the art form of haiku in his work Zen & Japanese Culture. Suzuki focuses on the importance of simplicity and non-intervention, sentiments that are evident in much of early Japanese haiku both before and after the Tokugawa era.

Zen and haiku are intimately related, particularly in their encouragement of non-intervention. Both enable the practitioner to express feelings and emotions naturally — a practice that helps facilitate enlightenment. Haiku is, in essence, a form of meditation that mankind can use as a tool to reach enlightenment. It is also a tool that helps people realize their commonality, or the common spirit that links all creatures in the universe with one another.

While some may argue that Zen's influence on haiku is only fleeting, the majority of evidence on early haiku suggests that much, if not all, of early haiku is influenced by Zen philosophy. Zen's influence is not only evident in the terminology used by many haiku poets, but also in the very ideals presented in much of the haiku of early Japan. The very structure of haiku poetry — its simple use of syllables and its absence of metaphor or personification — supports Zen ideals in multiple ways. There is no other art form as deeply influenced by, or as reflective of, Zen traditions in early Japanese history as the art of haiku.

References

Aitken, R., & Matsuo, Basho. (1978). A Zen wave: Basho's haiku and Zen. Weatherhill.

Bieler, J. (1981, Summer). Haiku — Matsuo Basho. Naropa Institute.

Henderson, H. G. (1958). An introduction to haiku: An anthology of poems and poets from Basho to Shiki. Doubleday Anchor Books.

Kasulis, T. P. (1981). Zen action/Zen person. University of Hawaii Press.

Lieberman, F. (2005, November 13). Zen Buddhism and art. University of California, Santa Cruz.

Suzuki, D. (1961). Essays in Zen Buddhism. Grove Press.

Suzuki, D. (1970). Zen & Japanese culture. Bollingen.

Yasuda, K. (1973). The Japanese haiku: Its essential nature, history and possibilities in English, with selected examples. Tuttle Publishing.