Kokinshu Book IVa: Autumn 1 (169-200)

While the two autumn books of the Kokinshu are as long as those of spring, their contents are more varied, especially in this first one: in contrast to the dominance of cherry blossoms, there are more things that remind poets of the world's transience -- winds, stars, mists, cold dew, changing leaves, barren trees, migrating geese, belling stags, late flowers. In all fairness, the dying year does evoke the melancholy of mono no aware more naturally than the blossoming spring -- "summer is over and gone, over and gone, over and gone," indeed. Regardless, with this variety, we get more varied responses (including far too much "cleverness" based on plant names).

But speaking of crickets, add to this project's bibliography Lafcadio Hearn's essay "Insect-Musicians" from his collection Exotics and Retrospectives. The focus is on those sold as pets in Tokyo in the 1890s, but along the way he gives a valuable rundown of all the varieties and their cultural associations. Because like everything else insects, even the cheerful chirpers, also trigger loneliness. 'Tis the season.


( Kokinshu IVa:169-200 )

Have I mentioned before that LJ length limits force me to split these posts onto a second scroll?

(Index for this series)

---L.

Kokinshu Book IVb: Autumn 1 (201-248)

Continued from part 1:


( Kokinshu IVb:201-248 )

And that wraps it up for Book IV, the first half of autumn. Book V, being the second half, is a little more obsessive focused on the leaves, ending in barren branches.

(Index for this series)

---L.