Ramadan

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Ramadan, Ramadhan, Ramazan

***** Location: Muslim Regions
***** Season: Non-seasonal Topic
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Ramadan (Ramadaan, ; variations Turkish: Ramazan, Ramazaan)
is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to God.
Muslims fast for the sake of God (Allah) and to offer more prayer than usual.
Compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the Gregorian calendar year in 34 years' time.
Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.

Origins of Ramadan
The word Ramadan is derived from an Arabic root R-M-Ḍ, as in words like "ramida" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat, scorched ground and shortness of rations. Ramadan, as a name for the month, is of Islamic origin. Prior to Islam and the exclusion of intercalary days from the Islamic calendar, the name of the month was Natiq and the month fell in the warm season. The word was thus chosen as it well represented the original climate of the month and the physiological conditions precipitated from fasting.
In the Qur'an, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you".
According to a hadith, this might refer to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !




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Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which in 2005 occurs on November 4 -- literally the "Festival of Breaking the Fast". Lasting for the entire month, Muslims fast during the daylight hours and in the evening eat small meals and visit with friends and family. It is a time of worship and contemplation. A time to strengthen family and community ties. Charity and good deeds are always important in Islam and they have special significance at the end of Ramadan. As the month draws to a close, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and making contributions to mosques.

Anthony Tidswell
http://francevoila.com/archives/118.html

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quote
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar, also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , (Arabic: التقويم الهجري‎; at-taqwīm al-hijrī; Persian: تقویم هجری قمری ‎ taqvim-e hejri-ye qamari; Turkish: Hicri Takvim; Urdu: اسلامی تقویم Islami taqwīm; Indonesian: Kalender Hijriah; Malay: Takwim Hijrah) is
a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries (concurrently with the Gregorian calendar), and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic holy days and festivals.
The first year was the Islamic year beginning in 622 CE during which the emigration of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijra, occurred. Each numbered year is designated either H for Hijra or AH for the Latin anno Hegirae (in the year of the Hijra).
The current Islamic year is 1433 AH, from approximately 26 November 2011 (evening) to 14 November 2012 (evening).
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year and contains no intercalation,
Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons.
The Islamic day starts after sunset. The actual and estimated start and end dates for Ramadan in 2007–2017 were and are as follows:

CE / AD --- AH --- First day --- Last day

2007 --- 1428 --- 13 September -- 12 October
2008 --- 1429 --- 1 September --30 September
2009 --- 1430 --- 22 August -- 20 September
2010 --- 1431 --- 11 August -- 9 September
2011 --- 1432 --- 1 August -- 29 August
2012 --- 1433 --- 20 July -- 18 August
2013 --- 1434 --- 9 July -- 7 August
2014 --- 1435 --- 28 June -- 27 July
2015 --- 1436 --- 18 June -- 16 July
2016 --- 1437 --- 6 June -- 5 July
2017 --- 1438 --- 27 May -- 25 June

©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


Ramadan in 2012
starts on Friday, the 20th of July and will continue for 30 days until Saturday, the 18th of August.

Based on sightability in North America, in 2012 Ramadan will start in North America a day later - on Saturday, the 21st of July.

Note that in the Muslim calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Thursday, the 19th of July.
source :　www.when-is.com


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The Japanese word kisetsu　季節, translated as season,
refers to the climate changes of
spring, summer, autumn and winter.


The English word season can also refer to other things, for example
a certain period of time.
source : www.thefreedictionary.com

Therefore the expression "Season of Ramadan" is not linked to climate, but to a special period of time.

- Reference : season of Ramadan -



Differences and Similarities between
the Muslim Season of Ramadan and
the Christian Season of Lent
source : www.essay-911.com



Thanks to Alan Summers
for the discussion of the differences.


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Worldwide use

ramadan ラマダン

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India

Empty stomach
sweeter emptiness --
Ramadan

Ram Krishna Singh
August 2011




crescent moon-
too parched to intone
Ramadan prayers

Angelee Deodhar
August 2013


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Kenya

The End of Ramadan (Idd ul Fitr) (the spelling used in Kenya) is a public holiday for the Muslim population. Click on the given link for more.

Isabelle Prondzynski

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Turkey

Berat Kandil (Leylatul Berat, Laylatul Barat)
is the 14th/15th of the month of Shaban, night of the full moon before the beginning of Ramazan.
Leylatul Berat in Arabic. "Berat Eve."


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Yemen

"moon of faith" , the moon in Ramadhan
It is also the name of a plum juice drunk as the first thing after a day of fasting.

moon of faith
entered by an ant
my world today

Heike Gewi, Yemen

YEMEN SAIJIKI


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Things found on the way

Verses from Quran
Recital loud and soft,
Under gasolin-lit homes

- Shared by Mokhtar Sah Malik, Malaysia -
Haiku Culture Magazine, 2013


The Quran - literally meaning "the recitation",
also transliterated Qur'an or Koran, Turkish: Kur'an, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be the verbatim word of God (Arabic: Allah). It is widely regarded as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !





Homage to our
Beloved mother
Last day of Ramadan

Mokhtar Sah Malik, August 2013



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HAIKU

earthquake in
Ramadan ~ "La illaha il Allaha"
in every mouth

silent earth, after
the absurd quake ~ Ramadan
twilight Nimaz

from the debris
a child still alive ~ Allaha's
grace in Ramadan

Zakat is Allaha's ~
all receive their share
of divine Grace

Narayanan Raghunathan, Autumn 2005
Remembering the huge earthquake in Pakistan and Indian Himalaya

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black and white threads
amongst the rubble and dust
Ramadan earthquake


Iftar -
("iftar" means "breakfast" and the community meal by which Muslims break their fast during Ramadan)

from the classroom dead
placed in his father's arms
iftar is very sweet

camping in the park
they make an iftar picknick
with foreign flour

Siyam (or "sawm") -
"Siyam" is the pillar of faith to keep the fast of Ramadan

one small boy
in an eighteen inch void
observes Siyam


Zakat -
"Zakat" means "almsgiving", the duty to distribute alms and to help the needy.

this year
the Christians also
share in Zakat

so many in need
giving Zakat to cousins
in a childless village

white threads
amongst the rubble
Ramadan earthquake

camping in the park
they make an iftar picnic
with foreign flour

Eryu

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Zakat (with an accent on the second syllable) means "sunset" in Russian.

Zakat solntsa -
nebo sine-lilovo-
oranjevoe

Sunset:
the sky is blue-purple-
orange

Zhanna P. Rader

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Ramadan--
a glass of water
untouched

Roh Mih, Philippines 2005
Haiku from the Philippines

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Ramadan
the muezzin rouses
the lazy rooster



Djenné, Mali, West Africa

© Haiga by Norman Darlington
http://eirmode.com/mm/pic.cgi?a=m&p=2

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muezzin's call
a kite's silhouette
beneath orange clouds

muezzin's call
a one-horned cow pushes
at the hotel gate

-- Johannes Manjrekar, India

http://haiku.cc.ehime-u.ac.jp/nobo/20060927/18352.html


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Ramadan -
power off
at school


after fresh dates
the face meets dust --
Allahull-Akbar


the date bowl
a hot spot for ants too ...
Al-Fatoor

[Al-Fatoor = Iftar]

Heike Gewi, Yemen, September 2008


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Related words

***** Ramadan ends (Idd ul Fitr)

***** ..... Ramazan, Berat Kandil Turkey 　
Leylatul Berat, Laylatul Barat　　

***** Sambosa, samosa
Food during the Ramadan. Yemen


***** Minaret, tower of a mosque



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Rainbow (niji)

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Rainbow (niji)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: All Summer and see below
***** Category: Heaven

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Explanation

A rainbow in the sky ... a kind of bridge to our future good luck !



niji 虹 にじ rainbow レインボ
futae niji 二重虹（ふたえにじ）double rainbow

asaniji　朝虹 （あさにじ） morning rainbow
yuuniji 夕虹（ゆうにじ）evening rainbow

niji no wa 虹の輪（にじのわ） "circle of a rainbow"
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

niji no hashi 虹の橋（にじのはし）bridge of a rainbow
niji no obi 虹の帯（にじのおび）belt of a rainbow
niji no hari 虹の梁（にじのはり） beam of a rainbow


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Contribution by Larry Bole, June 2006:

In "Haiku World," Higginson has this to say about 'rainbow' as a kigo:

"Rainbows can be seen at any time of year when an observer stands between the sun and a rain-shower cloud---provided the angles are right and the sky is clear in the right place. ... Conditions for seeing rainbows are more common in summer in most of the temperate zones, accounting for the assignment of RAINBOW (niji) to summer in the saijiki.
But they also occur at other times, so the topics SPRING RAINBOW (haru no niji) and AUTUMN RAINBOW (aki no niji) are recognized as well as WINTER RAINBOW (fuyu no niji)."

Higginson then gives a rainbow haiku by Shuuson Kato (Kato Shuson):

Thou too Brutus! 今も冬虹消えやすく
Thou too Brutus! ima mo fuyu niji kieyasuku

Et tu, Brute!
even now a winter rainbow
ready to disappear

I must confess, I don't understand this haiku.

However, in areas that have 'rainy seasons', 'rainbow' would be a kigo for whatever time of year the 'rainy season' is. One such place is described in the introduction, written by Shugyo Takaha, for the book "Kiyoko's Sky: The Haiku of Kyoko Tokutomi"
http://www.brooksbookshaiku.com/translations/kiyokohaiku.html


"In San Francisco . . . winter is the rainy season, and especially around New Year, it rains often. It is then that you can see a rainbow.
"Therefore, 'rainy season' and 'rainbow' would be winter kigo there."

One rainbow haiku I like, by Yoshiko Yoshino, translated by Lee Gurga and Emiko Miyashita:
This is in her book "Tsuru" in the 'summer' section.

sango saku umi ni umarete niji awashi

born in the sea
born in the coral flowers:
the faint rainbow




Thou too Brutus!
Shuson wrote this haiku during WWII, when he returned from an official visit to China and found his haiku friends in a lot of disagreement about the proper form.


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In our Library:

RAINBOW, COLOURS AND SCIENCE MYTHOLOGY
by Virve Sarapik

Rainbows in mythology. Wikipedia


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kigo for late spring

haru no niji 春の虹 (はるのにじ) rainbow in spring
hatsuniji 初虹（はつにじ） first rainbow (of the new year)


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kigo for all autumn


aki no niji 秋の虹 (あきのにじ) rainbow in autumn
..... akiniji 秋虹（あきにじ）



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kigo for all winter


fuyu no niji 冬の虹 (ふゆのにじ) rainbow in winter




. SAIJIKI
HEAVEN in all seasons 　



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Rainbow in Kenya
The Bahati Haiku Club



Photo : Patrick Wafula, May 2006
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/worldkigoparkinglot/message/584

The Kenya Saijiki



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Worldwide use

Germany

Regenbogen

Takayanagi Shigenobu (1923-1983) wurde von Kakio Tomizawa in die Welt des Haiku eingeführt. Von französischer moderner Literatur beeinflußt, schrieb er als erster Haiku in vier und mehr Zeilen und viele Haiku in der traditionellen Ein-Zeilen-Form unter den Namen Semio Yamakawa. Seine Haiku sind suggestiv, symbolisch, vielfach erotischer Natur oder voll Todesahnungen.(26)

Kann’ichi Abe interpretiert das folgende Haiku von Takayanagi Shigenobu, dem zum Vergleich zwei deutschsprachige vorangestellt sind.

Steh vor dem Abgrund –
Ein Regenbogen allein
spannt sich darüber.
(Imma von Bodmershof)

in pflasterpfützen
spielt eine ölspur .. ich bin
der regenbogen ..
(Roman York)

Mi o sorasu niji no
Zetten
Shokeidai
(Takayanagi Shigenobu)

Zurückgebeugt zum
höchsten Punkt des Regenbogens
Richtstätte

Das Haiku beschreibe eine fremde Landschaft tiefenpsychologisch. Der Begriff Regenbogen, im klassischen Haiku ein Sommer-Jahreszeitenwort, verliere hier jede kigo-Funktion und werde zum Bild, zum Symbol. "Es geht hier nicht um die Beschreibung der äußeren Welt; dieses Werk spielt im Inneren des menschlichen Denkens."(27)]
© Aspekte moderner deutschsprachiger Haiku, Mario Fitterer


Takayanagi Shigenobu 高柳 重信;
(* 9. Januar 1923 in der Stadt Tokio (heute Tokio); † 8. Juli 1983) war ein japanischer Haiku-Dichter.

Takayanagi studierte Jura an der Waseda-Universität. Hier gab er die Haiku-Zeitschriften Mure und Sōdai haiku heraus. Nachdem die meisten progressiven Haiku-Zeitschriften, darunter seine eigenen, verboten worden waren, publizierte er in Kikan. Unmittelbar nach dem Krieg gründete er Mure neu und außerdem die Zeitschrift Chōki.

1947 wurde er Schüler des Dichters Tomizawa Kakio, der westliche Einflüsse in die japanische Haiku-Dichtung einbrachte. Mit diesem gründete er 1952 die Avantgardezeitschrift Bara. 1958 gründete er Haiku hyorōn, und 1967 wurde er Redakteur der Zeitschrift Haiku kenkyū. Er veröffentlichte sechs eigene Gedichtbände: Fukiok (蕗子; 1950), Hakushakuryō (伯爵領; 1952), Kuromisa (黒彌撒; 1956), Aomisa (青彌撒; 1974), Sengaishū (山海集; 1976) und Nippon kaigun (日本海軍; 1979).
- source : wikipedia -

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Hawaii



© Mussell Family
http://www.mussell-family.com/ hawaii/


We can see rainbows throughout the year, so it might rather be a non-seasonal topic for haiku.
Look at more rainbows from Hawaii.


Water falls down not up
Palette of color waits all
Rainbow in the mist

© Charles Garcia, Honolulu Hawaii, March 2005
http://poemhunter.com/p/m/poem.asp?poet=127952&poem=2798826

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Things found on the way

circumhorizontal arc

caused by light passing through wispy, high-altitude cirrus clouds. this sight occurs only when the sun is very high in the sky. what's more, the hexagonal ice crystals that make up cirrus clouds must be shaped like thick plates with their faces parallel to the ground.

when light enters through a vertical side face of such an ice crystal and leaves from the bottom face, it refracts, or bends, in the same way that light passes through a prism. if a cirrus's crystals are aligned just right, the whole cloud lights up in a spectrum of colors

"fire rainbow"
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !




what is fire ...
a rainbow meditating
in clouds ?

- Shared by Louis Osofsky -
Joys of Japan, 2012

photo credit : National Geographic News, 03 June 2006
{over northern Idaho near the Washington State border}


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quote
In Japan, July 16 is Rainbow Day!
This isn’t a well-known holiday. In fact, it mainly involves wordplay. With a great deal of manipulation, you can represent that date in Japanese as なないろ (七色: 7 colors).

なな (七: 7) stands for July, the 7th month
い is an abbreviation of いち, the 1 of 16
ろ is an abbreviation of ろく, the 6 of 16

After all that, the day isn’t known as nana iro 七色 but rather as
niji no hi 虹の日 (にじのひ: Rainbow Day).

source : Joy o Kanji - Eve Kuschner


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HAIKU


. WKD : Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶 in Edo .

夕紅葉谷残虹の消へかかる
yuumomiji tani zankoo no kie kakaru

fall leaves at sunset --
in the valley traces of a rainbow
moments before vanishing
Tr. Chris Drake

Written sometime between 1795 and 1800. Since the hokku was written in the margins of Issa's 1795 haibun travelog about his trip to western Japan in 1795, it may be based on a memory of one of the trips he took that year. It is influenced by Chinese poetry, which was popular among haikai poets of the Katsushika school, to which Issa belonged when he was young.

In the hokku there seems to have been a short rainstorm, and the rainbow that formed soon after, when sunlight had returned, has gradually been getting fainter. The ruddy sunlight on the red and yellow leaves intensifies their colors, but now direct sunlight perhaps reaches only the trees on the upper slopes on one side above the valley, since the sun is going down. In the growing shadows the remaining traces of the rainbow are now on the verge of disappearing, while the autumn leaves are also gradually losing their intense color. Issa seems to be trying to say goodbye to two friends at the same time, and there is a palpable overtone of loneliness.

Chris Drake


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multiple coloured bow
streaking across the sky
in a sunny drizzle

Patrick Wafula
http://kenyasaijiki.blogspot.com/2005/12/long-rains.html

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Regenbogen !
Mutters Hand tastet
nach meiner

rainbow !
mother's hand reaches
for mine

Gabi Greve, 2006

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rainbow --
the cool colors
on the leaves



(c) 2006 知美 (chibi)< , America, September 2006

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初盆や夕日の雲に虹のある

first Bon ceremony -
a rainbow joins
the sunset clouds

Gabi Greve, Japan, August 13, 2007

It was the first O-Bon ceremony for our late neighbour.
The rainbow seemed to show his spirit on the way down to our valley.


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a whip-poor-will's song
the taste of rainbow
in my tea

"The Eastern Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus, is a medium-sized (22–27 cm) nightjar bird from North and Central America. The whip-poor-will is commonly heard within its range, but less often seen because of its superior camouflage. It is named onomatopoeically after its song."
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


- Shared by Sandi Pray -
Joys of Japan, 2012



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Related words

***** Bridge (hashi)
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PERSIA

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Haiku in Persian Language

بر كرانه جهان



Haiku from Wonder Haiku Worlds
translated to Persian by Sarah from Iran


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Reference


Wonder Haiku Worlds


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Please send your contributions to Gabi Greve
worldkigo .....

Back to the Worldkigo Index
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/

Tea Ceremony Saijiki

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Tea Ceremony Saijiki

茶道の歳時記

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a cup of tea
in my small room -
insects of autumn

Gabi Greve, 2005

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- under construction -

The Japanese Tea Ceremony
(chadoo　茶道, cha no yu 茶の湯),
the Way of Tea, has many seasonal events.



茶の湯の銘大百科

季節の言葉に見られる美しい日本語　。。。［稲畑汀子］

Great Dictionary about the Tea Ceremony
One of the authors is Inahata Teiko, the Haiku Master.
http://tankosha.topica.ne.jp/special/bookfair/2005_07/book1.html

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Sasaki Sanmi, "Chado: The Way of Tea -- A Japanese Tea Master's Almanac",
translated by Shaun McCabe and Iwasaki Satoko, foreword by Shen Soshitsu XV
(Tuttle, 2002)

The book is very pricy, but for those interested in both chado and haiku, it is a very worthwhile investment. The book is highly idiosyncratic, but gives a good idea of how a spcecific tea-master's mind worked (1893-1969), and includes lengthy sections on foods and other
seasonal items, month by month. He was also a recognized haiku master, and the book includes many haiku, with somewhat awkward translations.

Unlike the Japanese book cited above, this one is less concerned with universals of chado, more with one specific person's approach to it all.

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The Japanese tea ceremony is usually celebrated is a separate room or house, the Tea Ceremony Room, chashitsu 茶室.



This tea room of the temple Ginkaku-Ji in Kyoto is said to be the first of its kind in Japan.

I love
My hut
At the foot of the Moon-awaiting Mountain
And the reflection
Of the sinking sky

Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436-1490) ... and more about this place.


. Kyoto - Higashiyama Culture .
Ginkaku-Ji 銀閣寺, Yoshimasa 足利義政, Doojinsai 同仁斎

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yoojibashira 楊枝柱　"toothpick pillar"
The corner pillar of the host's mat is partly hidden.
jojibashira



. tsumayooji (tsumajoji) 爪楊枝　toothpick .

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Homepage of the Urasenke 　裏千家のＨＰ
http://www.urasenke.or.jp/textm/headq/soke/

© Urasenke Homepage Canada

裏千家の家元、千宗室
Interview with Sen Soshitsu (Sen Sooshitsu) 　 Present Iemoto

"Chanoyu: an Anthropological Approach to Tea,"
Jennifer Anderson 　

... ... ...

Yabunouchi Tea School 藪内流 WKD

Sen Sotan 千宗旦 (1578-1658)
Sootangitsune 宗旦狐 Sotan the Fox

Matsudaira Fumai (松平不昧) and the Matsue Tea Ceremony
Matsudaira Harusato (松平治郷) (1751-1818)


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Teacups chawan 茶碗 are very important in the tea ceremony.

Here are some from Raku Kichizaemon XV
樂 吉左衛門

　楽茶碗 Tea Cups in the RAKU style WKD

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The rain stayed away
This night was hot and moonie
Raku is the best

--Sarah M. and Natalie C.



Read more here:
　©　Annual Raku firing with Ellis students
-- tea ceremony and haiku

. Tea cups and pots - Dragon Design .

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Lid stand (futa oki, futaoki　蓋置き)
To keep the lid of the water kettle off the floor.
This small item made of various materials, including porcelain, bamboo or carved wood.
To give it a seasonal touch, in winter a pine cone is used, in summer a butterfly.

CLICK for more LINKS !

. Tea Kettles 茶釜 chagama .

. chasen 茶筅 / 茶筌　/ 茶せん tea whisk .

Kaishi 懐紙 "pocket paper"

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hanebooki, hane-booki 羽根ぼうき / 羽箒
feather to ritually clean the hearth, feather broom
(habooki 羽箒) Federbesen
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


炭斗の羽箒に来る鼠かな
sumitori no habooki ni kuru nezumi kana

she comes to the
feather broom in the coal basket -
this mouse

Shiwasu san 師走

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Sweets served for the tea ceremony,
chagashi 茶菓子
tea cakes, teacakes, Teekuchen

omogashi 主菓子, main cake for a tea ceremony

The cakes bring the seasons into the tearoom. Their names are also made to reflect the season and to show the poetic associations of olden times. Many are named after famous poems.

WAGASHI ... Sweets SAIJIKI



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Worldwide use

China

Gongfu Cha
The place of tea time in England, tea ceremony in Japan, gongfu cha in China... show that tea is more than a drink. It's a social activity. One that let's us exchange and share a common feeling with friends, family or even strangers.

Chinese Tea Masters
External LINK by Stéphane Erler

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Germany

Jahreszeiten im Teeweg , Jahreszeitenworte

by Gerhardt Staufenbiel, Urasenke Teelehrer (Teamaster)

Read the German explanations here:
Jahreszeiten im Teeweg, by Gerhardt Staufenbiel

"Was ist der geheime Hintergrund für die Verwendung des Furo im Sommer und des Ro im Winter?"
"Ruf im Sommer das tiefe Empfinden einer kühlen Frische und im Winter das einer geborgenen Wärme hervor.
Leg die Holzkohle so, daß sie das Wasser richtig erhitzt und bereite einen Tee, der erfreut - das ist das ganze Geheimnis!"
Sen no Rikyû

The German text is found here:
http://www.teeweg.de/de/kisetsu/jahreszeiten.html

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12 Months in the Tea Ceremony

kigo for the New Year



hatsugama　初釜 "first use of the kettle"
First tea ceremony of a new year.
..... hatsu chanoyu 初茶湯（はつちゃのゆ）
..... kamahajime 釜始（かまはじめ）
..... tatezome 点初（たてぞめ）
..... hatsu temae 初点前（はつてまえ）
..... temae hajime 点茶始（てんちゃはじめ）
..... chanoyu hajime 茶湯始（ちゃのゆはじめ）

New year decoration with willow branches
kake yanagi　掛柳 (かけやなぎ)




hatsu chashaku 初茶杓 first use of the tea scoop
..... hatsu kezuri 初削/削初 first carving
A new scoop is carved and used at the first tea ceremony of the year.



hikizome 挽初 (ひきぞめ)
first grinding of powdered tea
..... cha no hikizome 茶の挽初（ちゃのひきぞめ）


Obukucha おぶくちゃ　
First tea ceremony of the new year. Using the first well water (wakamizu) and heating the hearth for the first time. A quiet ceremony for the tea master and his family.
. Good Health (Luck) Tea, fukucha　福茶 .
..... oobuku, oofuku　大服
..... oofukucha, oobukucha　大福茶 , 皇服茶
..... ofukucha　御福茶


. First drawing of Well Water (wakamizu 若水) .



Tenarai hajime : Raku family of tea ceramics
手習始め. 楽家.
Introducing the Raku Family.

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一月 Ichigatsu - JANUARY

茶入 Chaire - Behälter für den dicken Tee - Containers for thick tea
来福 Raifuku
初草 Hatsu Kusa

茶杓 Chashaku - Teelöffel - Tea Scoops
. 蓬莱山 Horai San (hoorai san).
千代の光 Chiyo no Hikari




茶碗 Chawan - Teeschalen - Tea Bowls
雲海 Unkai, Sea of clouds
瑞雲 Zuiun

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二月 Nigatsu - February

茶入 Chaire - Container for powdered tea
山の神 Yama no Kami, God of the Mountains
暮雪 Bosetsu, Much Snow

茶杓 Chashaku - Tea scoop
籬の雪 Magaki no Yuki
春の水 Haru no Mizu, water of spring
洗心 Sen Shin senshin

茶碗 Chawan
雪国 Yukiguni, Snow country
夜寒 Yosamu, Cold Night
東雲 Shino Nome
宿の梅 Yado no Ume, Plums at the resthouse


akatsuki no chaji 暁の茶事 "dawn tea ceremony"
A tea ceremoniy held in the coldest season of the year. It starts at 4 a.m. and the participants enjoy the dawn of the new day. It starts with candle light and slowly things become more visible as the day breakes and light comes through the small windows.

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三月 Sangatsu - March

. Rikyuu Ki 利休忌 Rikyu Memorial Day.
Memorial ceremony of the death day of Sen Rikyu.


tsurigama 釣釜 (つりがま) hanging kettle
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
quote
The Tsurigama is a slightly narrower kettle which is hung from a chain exactly above the Ro charcoal pit. The Kan rings are different from those used when removing a normal Kama from the fire. The chain, the rings, and the handle are available for reasonable prizes to extremely expensive sets with a name made by famous smiths and come in their own box.
source : the-japanese-tea-ceremony.blogspot.jp


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四月 Shigatsu - April

. "sweet tea", amacha 甘茶 (あまちゃ) .
"water with five scents", gokoosui 五香水（ごこうすい）
"water of five colors, goshiki no mizu
五色の水（ごしきのみず）
Buddha's Birthday on April 8


. hachijuuhachiya 八十八夜
eighty-eighth day from the beginning of spring.
The best time for picking tea leaves

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The Haiku Summer starts in May.

humanity kigo for all summer

furocha 風炉茶 (ふろちゃ)
tea ceremony with the furo brazier
..... furo temae 風炉手前（ふろてまえ）
hatsuburo (shoburo) 初風炉（はつぶろ） first use of the furo brazier
The furo brazier is used from May to November.



asa cha no yu 朝茶の湯 (あさちゃのゆ)
tea ceremony in the morning
natsu cha no yu 夏茶の湯（なつちゃのゆ）
tea ceremony in summer
..... natsu temae 夏点前（なつてまえ）

asacha 朝茶（あさちゃ）"tea in the morning"

asa chaji 朝茶事
Tea ceremonies held in the cool hours of the early morning, beginning at 6, before the heat of day begins. Light refreshments are served with the tea.



meisuidate 名水点（めいすいだて）
entertaining with famous water
Tea masters especially in Kyoto would go to a famous well to scoop water. They use a special purified wooden container to transport the water.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


natsujawan 夏茶碗（なつぢゃわん） tea cup for summer
The pattern will bring a feeling of coolness.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


. Saidaiji Oochamori, oo-cha mori
西大寺大茶盛 (さいだいじおおちゃもり)
serving big cups of green tea at temple Saidai-Ji
..... oochamori 大茶盛（おおちゃもり) "big teacup"

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五月 Gogatsu - May

新茶 shincha, new tea, fresh green tea
茶摘み chatsumi, picking tea leaves
茶摘歌 chatsumi uta, song of the tea pickers
In olden times, girls dressed in special kimono and headgear would go out to pick the tea leaves.
Click HERE to look at photos.

山門を出れば日本ぞ茶摘うた
sanmon o dereba nihon zo chatsumi uta

outside the temple gate
it's Japan again!
the song of tea pickers

Read a discussion of this haiku:
Tr. Gabi Greve

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六月 Rokugatsu - June

Ryô Ichimi 涼一味 ryooichimi . Coolness
The head of the Urasenke Tea Ceremony, Sen Soshitsu (Sen Sooshitsu)　 裏千家の家元、千宗室, talked about ways to stage the coolness, for example using a large fresh green leaf as cover of the water container (habuta　葉蓋) or wringing the little linen cleansing cloth in a way it produces the fresh sound of clear water (arai jakin 洗い茶巾). The intention is to create an aesthetically cool feeling, not to physically cool anything.
Read more:
Sen Soshitsu about Stageing of Coolness in the Tea Ceremony.

meisuidate　名水点 Using famous well water for the tea
tsurube mizusashi つるべ水差し square cedar box water container

Esai-ki 英西忌 Memorial Day of Eisai
Kenchû-ki 剣仲忌 (Kenchuu) Memorial Day

Ômi-jingû Schrein Kencha 近江神宮献茶 (Oomi Jinguu)

. Koorin-ki 光琳忌 Korin Memorial Day .
Ogata Korin, Ogata Koorin 尾形光琳 (1657 - 1716)

. Oribe-ki 織部忌 Oribe Memorial Day .
Chôandô-ki (Chooandoo)
Furuta Oribe 古田織部 (1544 -1615)

Rokugatsu no harae 六月の戒
..... Summer Purification Ceremony (nagoshi)　

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七月 Shichigatsu - July

. Kenchabune 献茶舟（けんちゃぶね） boat for ritual tea ceremony .
at the Tenmangu Shrine Festival in Osaka 天満祭

flowers arranged taking turns turn, mawaribana まわりばな 廻り花、回り花
Each participant has to put one flower in the vase for a flower arrangement. The vase is then placed in the tokonoma. The flower arrangement has to match the hanging scroll theme. The vase is usually made of bamboo with a cut at the top.

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The Haiku Autumn starts in August.

八月 Hachigatsu - August

Hassaku-gama 八朔釜 Tea kettle used at the Hassaku ceremony.
Hassaku Harvest Festival, Hassaku sai, Hassaku no Iwai Japan

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Kado-cha 門茶 "tea at the gate"
..... settai 摂待
giving tea as alms at the temple gate
From the first of the 7th lunar month to the 24th.
Tea is prepared at the gate and given to monks and pilgrims. Sometimes a full tea ceremony with food is given as alms.
. o-settai, settai 摂待 giving alms to henro pilgrims .

摂待や猫がうけとる茶釜番
settai ya neko ga uketoru chagama ban

giving tea to the pilgrims -
the cat is also served
by the teakettle caretaker

Kobayashi Issa

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九月 Kugatsu - September

Naka-oki 中置


Koogetsu ki 月江忌 Kogetsu Memorial Day (Gekkoo)
Abt Koogetsu Soogan 江月宗玩 (1574 - 1643), temple Daitoku-Ji 大徳寺.

Uji no Cha-matsuri 字治の茶祭 Tea Festival at Uji
source : chamatsuri
. Different types of Green Tea from Japan .


Bashoo Ki 芭蕉忌 Bashoki, Basho Ki Matsuo Basho Memorial Day

MORE - hokku about drinking tea with
. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .

Yasukuni-jinja Kencha 靖国神社献茶, Tea Ceremony at Yasukuni Shrine

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十月 Juugatsu - October

Nagori no chaji 名残の茶事
Furo-nagori　風炉名残 "parting with the furo"
At the end of autumn, the last tea of this year is drunk in rememberance of the warmer season. Now the winter will soon start.
At the end of October, the furo 風炉 is put away and replaced by the ro 炉.
A special tea ceremony is held to part with the hearth for the next half year.


Ichio-ki 一翁忌　Ichio Memorial Day
(around October 19)
A tea ceremony on the anniversary of the death of the tea master Sen Ichio Soshu 一翁宗守 （1593～1675, the fourth generation from Rikyu.
He was the founder of the tearoom Kankyuan 官休庵(Kankyuu-An).

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十一月 Juuichigatsu - November

Robiraki　炉開き"Opening the hearth"
irori hiraki 囲炉裏開く（いろりひらく）"opening the open hearth"
The hearth 炉 is opened for the first time since April. Tea for this cereomny is prepared with tea powder made from leaves freshly picked that summer.
This hearth, ro, will be used from now until the following April.



nurirobuchi 塗炉縁 ぬりろぶち fuchi edge of the hearth
kijirobuchi 木地炉縁（きじろぶち）wooden edge around the hearth
a square hearth protection. Some of famous temples are decorated with laquer and inlay.


Kuchikiri no chaji 口切の茶事 (くちきり) opening the tea jar
kuchikiri, kuchi kiri 口切（くちきり)
kuchikiri chakai 口切茶会（くちきりちゃかい） Kuchikiri tea ceremony
now around November 16
It used to be the 30th day of the 9th lunar month.
Tea leaves picked in early summer are packed inside jars and mature until November. Now the jars are opened (kuchi kiri : open the mouth of the jar).
The leaves are then ground into powder for powdered green matcha.
At this tea ceremony, the tea is prepared using the first fresh powder.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Matsuo Basho remembers Sen Rikyu
and the kuchikiri ceremony in Sakai
. kuchikiri ni Sakai no niwa zo natsukashiki .


口切のとまり客あり峰の坊
kuchikiri ni tomarikyaku ari mine no boo

for the opening of the tea jar
there are visitors over night -
mountain retreat

. Tan Taigi 炭太祇 .

. . . . .

shiki matsuba 敷松葉 (しきまつば) spreading pine needles

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十二月 Juunigatsu - December

Kotohajime 事始
Preparations for welcoming the new year begin. Greetings for the year end are made on this day. Around December 11.


Joyagama 除夜釜
On New Year's Eve (joya), the family and close students of a tea master drink the final tea of the year in the tea master's home. The fire built at this time is used for the first Obukucha the following year on the next morning. Thus the tradition is continued from one year to the next.


Yobanashi no chaji 夜話の茶事 "Talking at nightfall"
Tea ceremonies are held in candlelight from nightfall until evening. Food is served and the cold and maybe snow can be enjoyed. It starts at 6 o'clock.
..... yobanashi 夜咄 (よばなし)
..... rohenbanashi 炉辺話（ろへんばなし）
..... yobanashi saji 夜咄茶事（よばなしさじ）

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Each Month with its tea-related kigo
From a Japanese Saijiki
http://www.sadoukaikan.com/tea/saijiki.html


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Things found on the way

Daruma san, だるまさん　達磨さん、 the Indian Monk Bodhidaruma, practised Zazen for long hours. When he got sleepy, he cut off his eyelids and threw them away. Later he found a plant had grown out of them. He collected the leaves and brewed the first tea ... says the legend.

Daruma is closely related to tea for this reason !!!

Here is a special online museum for Daruma san only.
Daruma Museum Japan by Gabi Greve


The Old Tea Road from Yunnan to Lhasa .. Pu Erh Tea and Salt
茶葉古道（ちゃばこどう)

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HAIKU

NARACHA ... 奈良茶

Matsuo Basho was very fond of Naracha rice gruel served at Haikai Meetings.

侘びて澄め月侘斎が奈良茶歌
. wabite sume tsuki wabisai ga Naracha uta .
Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD

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The Hundred Poems of Chanoyu 茶の湯百首

(92)
茶の湯には梅、寒菊に、黃葉落、靑竹、枯木、曉の霜
(The essence of) chanoyu (may be found) by (the contemplation of) these (images): the ume and the kan-giku; the scattering of the colored leaves, the (vitality of) green bamboo, and (the solitude and silence of a) leafless tree (in the depths of winter); the frost at dawn.

Daniel M. Burkus
source : chanoyu-to-wa

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clear mind
viewing the garden
drinking tea

Gabi Greve, 2005
Inside the Zen gardens of Master Shunmyo Masuno

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autumn solitude -
I share my cup of tea
with ALL of you !

Isn't the Internet a great place !
Click HERE to see my teapot philosophy !
Gabi Greve, September 2006　　　

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Geert Verbeke, January 2006
http://users.skynet.be/geert.verbeke.bowls

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late spring -
the old kettle
still shines

Gabi Greve, April 2007
short history of the tea kettle

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Related words

Saijiki of Buddhist, Shinto and other Ceremonies and Events of Japan

The Old Tea Road from Yunnan to Lhasa
茶馬古道（ちゃばこどう) Chaba Kodo




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Pulling Pine Seedlings (komatsu hiki)

[ . BACK to Worldkigo TOP . ]
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Pulling Pine Seedlings (komatsu hiki)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: New Year
***** Category: Observance
komatsubiki
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Explanation






Click on any of the dolls on this link to see the details!
© http://evagenji.hp.infoseek.co.jp/co-2002-12-9.htm

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On the first day of the rat, people used to go to the fields and pull out the first herbs and greens (nanakusa, see below), including small pine seedlings with the roots. This practise started in the late Nara period and enjoyed by the members of the aristocracy at court. It was a well-loved ceremony and appreas on many paintings, screens and scrolls.

Pines, which do not falter during frost and snow, are a symbol for long life. The small pine seedlings were thought to be sepecially auspicious.

The sliding door paintings of Reizei Tamechika 令泉為恭 (1823-64) in the temple Daijuji 大樹寺, Okazaki Town, are especially famous.



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Kigo related to this event

pulling out small pine seeldings, komatsu hiki　小松引
..... pulling pine seeldings, matsubiki　松引
.... young pine, wakamatsu 若松

first day of the rat, hatsune 初子
day of the rat 子の日
playing at the first rat day, ne no hi no asobi 子の日の遊び, 子日遊び

"small princess pine", hime komatsu 姫小松 ひめこまつ
..... "pine like a tea whisk", chasen matsu 茶筅松

pines of the day of the rat, ne no hi no matsu 子の日の松
greens of the day of the rat, ne no hi gusa 子の日草

dress for the day of the rat, ne no hi goromo　子の日衣

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WKD : The Asian Lunar Calendar Reference


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way

Hatsune, not to be mixed up with

"the first sound", hatsune 初音,
name of a gentle lady in the Tale of Genji.

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HAIKU

子の日しに都へ行かん友もがな　
ne no hi shi ni miyako e ikan tomo mo gana

I would like to go to the capital
to enjoy the First Day of the Rat
but there is no friend to come with me . . .
Tr. Gabi Greve

Written in 1687 貞亨2年
Basho was again in his homeground, Iga Ueno, to spend the New Year.
Nozarashi.

. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .


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公家の手に豆出かしたる子の日哉
kuge no te ni mame dekashitaru ne no ki kana

the hands of aristocrats
get corns ...
day of the rat

横井也有 Yokoi Yayuu
http://www.geocities.jp/haikunomori/yayu/haru02.html

Aristocrats and their ladies were not used to manual labour of any kind.

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Haiku by Issa

榎迄引抜れたる子の日哉
enoki made hiki-nukeretaru ne no hi kana

even a nettle tree
is uprooted...
first day of Rat

Pulling up a young pine tree on the first day of Rat is a custom that originated in China. Shinji Ogawa explains that its purpose was to bring good luck or longevity. Here, instead of a pine, someone indiscriminantly uproots a young nettle tree.


袴着て芝にころりと子の日哉
hakama kite shiba ni gorori to ne no hi kana

with his sword's sheath
curled to sleep on the lawn...
first day of Rat


小松引人とて人のおがむ也
ko matsu hiku hito tote hito no ogamu nari

yanking up
a little pine
he says a prayer

Issa (Tr. David Lanoue

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-- in praise of cranes --

人の引小松の千代やさみすらん
hito no hiku ko matsu no chiyo ya samisuran

humans pull up
young thousand-year pines --
cranes seem unimpressed

This hokku is from the tenth month (November) of 1820, when Issa was in and around his hometown. On 10/5 Issa's second son Ishitarō was born, and on 10/16 Issa slipped and fell and discovered he had become temporarily partially paralyzed, so he may have brushed this hokku using only one hand and arm. It seems to be a hokku for the upcoming new year, since it evokes the custom of going out into the woods on the first day of the rat in the new year and pulling up pine saplings, roots and all, which were then taken home and revered as a symbol of longevity, since pines were said, according to a tradition going back to ancient China, to live a thousand years. Issa seems skeptical of this custom, and this hokku looks at it from the point of view of cranes, which were also said by tradition to live a thousand years.
Since the headnote says the hokku is written in praise of cranes, the verb in the last line seems to take the cranes as its subject.

In the hokku people who have come to the woods to pull up young pines on the first day of the rat no doubt envy the cranes when they see the birds in or below a grown pine nearby or perhaps flying through the sky above, and they hope to emulate the long-lived birds by taking home young pines and displaying them in their homes as prayers for a long life and happiness. The cranes, however, do not seem to return the respect shown by the humans when they catch sight of the impressive birds.

According to Issa the cranes seem to regard the humans as intruders. Perhaps they make cries of dismay, or perhaps they look at the humans with hard, cold stares. In any case, Issa senses that they don't seem happy to see these strange humans pulling up young pine trees. Following tradition, Issa may be suggesting that the cranes seem to look down on these out-of-place humans so much that they pity them. They themselves naturally live a thousand years -- a symbol for many, many long bird-years -- but all these poor humans can do is crudely imitate cranes by pulling up young pines, thereby ensuring that the saplings never live live to anything like their full lifespan. Issa's suggestion seems to be that humans should stop harming pines and other natural objects and instead learn how to live naturally long lives the way cranes do.

Soon after this hokku in Issa's diary are placed two hokku that are evidently prayers for the vigorous growth of Issa's second son Ishitarō, so the above hokku may also indirectly express Issa's hope that his second son will grow up to be a naturally strong person who will lead a spontaneously long, healthy life like a crane. Unfortunately Issa's second son died in the first month of the next year.

Chris Drake

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Related words

***** Pine (matsu, Japan) 松

***** Seven Herbs of Spring (haru no nanakusa) (Japan)


WKD: Ceremonies of Japan Nihon no Gyooji　日本の行事


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Praying Mantis

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Praying Mantis (kamakiri, Japan)

***** Location: Japan, other regions
***** Season: All Autumn, others see below
***** Category: Animal

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Explanation

praying mantis, praying mantid,
kamakiri 鎌切 Tenodora aridifolia
..... tooroo, tōrō 螳螂
..... ibomushiri いぼむしり, ibojiri　いぼじり
kokamakiri 小かまきり（こかまきり) small praying mantis
..... ax insect, ono-mushi斧虫
..... praying insect, 祈り虫
"Chinese mantid" Paratenodera sinensis
kigo for all autumn


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Kigo for Mid-Summer
mantis is born, tooroo umaru　蟷螂生まる

baby mantis, kokamakiri 小かまきり
..... tooroo no ko 蟷螂の子
In May and June the babies come out in great numbers. They already look like the parents, just in a smaller edition. They start lifting their little arms like a grown mantis, yet they are still all soft green.

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Kigo for early winter

tooroo karu 蟷螂枯る (とうろうかる)
withering praying mantis
karetooroo 枯蟷螂（かれとうろう）


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Most kids have tried keeping praying mantises at one time or another. There are a number of strangely shaped and colorful tropical mantises which are now being bred in captivity.

Read more about this interesting insect
http://www.herper.com/insects/mantids.html

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Worldwide use


Gottesanbeterin


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Things found on the way

Haibun by Carol Raisfeld A few weeks ago, as it was turning cooler, spider webs were everywhere...early morning dew made them all sparkle. Passing our hinoki tree I heard the birds, looked up and saw this praying mantis caught in a giant web. My heart skipped a beat as I watched him struggle to free himself. He was huge and so beautiful. I ran into the house to get my gardening gloves and was back at the tree in record time. Gently I took him from the web and placed him in one of the nearby flowerpots filled with impatiens and daisies. I knew the struggle took it's toll because he didn't move much and I have no idea how long he was trapped with no food or water. Hopefully he would drink the dew and water from the leaves in the flowerpot. I must have come out to look at him six or seven times that day ... He seemed to be losing his color and I felt so sorry for him... and me. I just wanted to cry. I really wanted to remember him, so I got my camera and as I snapped this photo he looked up at me as if to say thanks for giving me a little more time. In the morning I found him lying under the flowers... his final resting place. I still think about him and I'm glad I have this photo to share. Now I know he won't be forgotten ... I wonder if he knows. early morning - a twig in the flowerpot turns to the sun Published with permission Original from November 2002 is here http://home.alc.co.jp/db/owa/ph_diary?stage=show&diary_sn_in=311 ... ... ... And here is a reply from "chibi" (pen-name for Dennis M. Holmes) In a Taoist view -- the spider was deprived of an essential meal that would have helped perpetuate the spider family. We, as humans, are graced with both the curse and cure of transfering our values to and from nature. Indeed, Carol followed her heart. I too struggle to action through head and/or heart. Now, my "scientific" mind probes what was happening to the mantis in Carol's story. I suspect that the spider had "bitten" the mantis and the mantis was dying from the poison. Also, the mantis had probably laid her eggs already and the end of her life was close. Perhaps, a story could be spun (excuse the spider's pun) that the mantis ate the spider that bit her? A Greek tragedy of the order of Sophocles could be written from this "natural" drama. The insect world is as alien to us humans as any UFO-ologist could imagine! In fact, if you look with an eye towards that relationship, the mantis face does look Area 51 familiar!! (aside -- Dear Carol, your haibun is beautiful and I do not intend to deter from that. If I have in any way, I beg forgiveness. It did for me make me pause to appreciate the many layers of that moment. Thank you.) ... ... ... Gabi: It is indeed difficult to know when to interfere and when not, the Chinese WU WEI is one way of teaching us. Do not do anything (if it is not in proper timing), my addidion in parenthesis. deep silence - the song of insects magnified ... ... ... Carol: It is very enlightening to read about the Taoist view, and it's true I deprived the spider family of an essential meal that would have helped perpetuate the spider family (now I feel badly for the spider family). But I had to follow my heart when I saw the plight of the mantis, thinking I could save her... I'm sure to disturb the balance of nature is not good, but we tend to interject human values into these situations. I know after reading this I will think twice about intervening in 'natural' happenings. But when we have to follow our heart, I imagine that's a part of what makes us human after all.;-) deep night the silence of a spider spinning ... ... ... Gabi: I think the death of this mantis was not in vain after all now. It gave rise to many haiku and food for thought. I hope many will read this and think about life and death, sun and rain, yin and yang more deeply. Below is a note on the WU WEI philosopy.

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WU WEI

Laozi’s (Lao Tse, Lao Tsu, Lao Dse) famous slogan has puzzled interpreters for centuries and has given rise to numerous interpretations. Arguably, Laozi knew it was paradoxical since the complete slogan is wu-wei and yet wu not-wei. The first character is not the main problem (see You-wu). Wu is simply "does not exist."

In this phrase, however, interpreters treat it as a negative prescription: "avoid wei." Chinese texts include many similar uses and we commonly read other declarative sentences in The Laozi as prescriptions. So, let us take it as saying that one should lack wei–whatever that is. Saying what wei is is the harder problem.

Textbook interpretations say wei means "purpose." In modern Mandarin, the character has two different tones. The fourth tone reading is usually translated as "for the sake of." In the second tone reading, the character would normally be translated as ‘to act.’ Thus, translators argue, wu-wei really means no purposive action. The whole slogan is "no purposive action and yet do act."

Read a scholarly excursion on the subject of WU WEI
http://www.hku.hk/philodep/ch/wuwei.htm

................................... Zhuangzi (ChuangTzu 莊子)
Chad Hansen's Chinese Philosophy Pages
http://www.hku.hk/philodep/ch/


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HAIKU

かりかりと蟷螂蜂の皃(かお)を食む
karikari to kooroo hachi no kao o kamu

crunching and munching -
the mantis chews on
the bee's face
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

karikari is an onomatopoetic expression, mimicking the sound of the mantis eating a bee, as it sounds to the Japanese ear.

Yamaguchi Seishi
http://www.suien.net/seishi/kansyo.htm

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> mantis ~
> making haiku
> in the still meadow

eric l. houck jr.
http://haiku.cc.ehime-u.ac.jp/~shiki/shiki.archive/html/9809/0300.html

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baby mantis
staggers along the pavement
raindrops

http://www.ahapoetry.com/Ssgam54.htm

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Related words

***** Insects (mushi) (05) Autumn insects, aki no mushi



. ANIMALS in all SEASONS
SAIJIKI


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Power Stones (chikara ishi)

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Power Stone, Strenght Stone (chikara ishi)
chikaraishi, chikara-ishi
***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Non-seasonal Topic
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

Since olden times, people like to compare their strengh. In Japan, at many temples and shrines there are heavy stones and the menfolk try to lift them as a special event during the annual autumn festival.

A priest famous for his physical strength, Benkei, has stones named in his honor, Benkei Ishi　弁慶の力石.

In Japan, it was also cutsom since old times to lift a stone after making a wish and judge from the feeling of the weight weather the wish was granted or not. These are the famous "Heavy-light Stones", which I have described in detail here.
Heavy-light Stones / Omokaru Ishi おもかる石. 重軽石.

This was a form of "Stone Oracle" ishi-ura 石占（いしうら).

At the Yokkaichi University, there is a group devoted to the study of these stones. They have a huge haiku collection, which I will introduce below.



The strong men of the village who could lift the heaviest stone for the longest time were of couse venerated by all and called Strong Men, chikaramochi 力持ち.

The oldest stones with inscriptions are found at the Hachiman Shrine at Kuki Town, Saitama Pref.
埼玉県久喜市樋の口の八幡神社力石　



The information is taken from the site of Yokkaichi University.
http://www.za.ztv.ne.jp/takashim/chikara1.htm

Gabi Greve


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External LINKS

全国の力石研究 (Study of power stones in Japan)
very extensive !
source : takashima

source : 力石・俳句・短歌・狂歌・川柳


. Japanese Reference .


. . . CLICK here for Photos from Shrines !
力石 神社

. . . CLICK here for Photos from Temples !
力石 寺


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Worldwide use

Scotland

Scottish Stone Lifting

quote
Lifting stones are common throughout northern Europe, particularly Scotland, Iceland (where it is referred to as steintökin), Scandinavia and Northern England. They were usually heavy local stones, without any modification, with the challenge being to lift such a stone, proving your strength. Some of the stones are in fact so heavy that there has been no authenticated lift in modern times, only legend. Recently, lifting stones have often been incorporated into the World's Strongest Man competitions.

Clach cuid fir, Gaelic for "Manhood Stones", originate from Scotland and Clach-ultaich.

In Iceland, lifting stones were categorised into the fullsterkur ("full strength") weighing 155 kg (341 pounds), the hálfsterkur ("half strength") at 104 kg (228.8 pounds), hálfdrættingur ("weakling") at 49 kg (107.8 pounds) and amlóði ("Useless") at 23 kg (50.6 pounds).

Basque
Stone lifting is also a traditional sport in the Basque Country involving the lifting of stone, called harri jasoketa.

The stone carry or stone walk
is a traditional Scottish and Icelandic athletic event involving the carrying of large stones down the field of competition.

©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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Switzerland and Spain

The weigh-lifting game by using stone is played in the mountain areas in Switzerland and Spain. Also in Japan, it has been played among the people since the Edo era (1603-1867), and it was called "chikara-ishi".

Chikara-ishi (Stone-lifting) in Awaji Isl., Hyogo Prefecture
Such chikara-ishi now found here and there at shrines and temples in the northern part of Awaji Isl., in Hyogo Prefecture. Those who did this stone-lifting were the young serf named otoko-shu.

In summer, in the evenings, when their work was over, they gathered in a meeting place or a shrine or the ground of a temple in twos and threes and they competed for strength by lifting or practiced carrying stones. But as the change of social structure brought about a decline in the number of people of the "otoko-shu-class", labor became mechanized and the way of recreation was changed, and stone ifting has ceased to be played and only the reminiscence of the past are shown in monuments.
http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/jspe3/journal/PEabstract/12/12-4.htm

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Things found on the way

The Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu
is dedicated to Sugawara-no Michizane and he is said to be a descendant of Nomi-no Sukune, who is said to be the first rikishi (sumo wrestler) in Japanese history. There was a monument dedicated to Nomi-no Sukune inDazaifu Temmangu shrine.
In front of this monument, there are three large egg-shaped stones sitting on the ground. These are so-called"Chikara Ishi" or power stones. Men who are extremely proud of their own power used these stones to compete each other.
Adapted from this link
http://banzuke.com/00-1/msg00088.html


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Togoshi Hachiman Jinja Shrine, Shinagawa, Tokyo
There are also stones within the grounds called “Sashi-Ishi (Chikara-Ishi).” It is said that during the Edo Period, people played sumo and young people used to compete to see who was the strongest by shouldering these stones. Today, a children’s sumo event is held in May.

Look at some photos from the area
http://www.merit5.co.jp/gyosei/shinagawa/0509/0509_02.html


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At other shrines in Japan

Hokkaido, Yubari 北海道夕張郡栗山町中里

Hyogo prefecture, Tenman Jinja 天満神社
兵庫県姫路市大津区

Ishikawa prefecture, Ubashi Jinja 菟橋神社
石川県小松市浜田町

Niigata prefecture, Akai Jinja 赤井神社
新潟県両津市加茂歌代

Saitama prefecture, Hachiman Jinja 八幡神社
埼玉県久喜市樋の口


Tokyo Kibun Inari Jinja 紀文稲荷神社
東京都江東区永代
Tokoy, Shinobu Jinja 志演神社
東京都江東区北砂

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HAIKU
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

黒々と力の石に月照らす
kuroguro to chikara no ishi ni tsuki terasu

oh so black
on the power stones
the moonshine

森本和子 Morimoto Kazuko

ooo

秋の蝉大樹の下の力石
aki no semi taiki no shita no chikara ishi

autumn cicadas -
below the large tree
the power stones

渡辺僚子 Watanabe Ryooko

ooo

大柿の花のこぼれし力石
oo-kaki no hana no koboreshi chikara ishi

fallen flower petals
from the big persimmon tree -
power stones

伊藤和子 Itoo Kazuko


Yokkaichi University Study Group on Lifting Stones.
Takashima Shinsuke Collection

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Related words

***** Heavy-light Stones / Omokaru Ishi
おもかる石. 重軽石

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