- Paperback: 88 pages
- Publisher: Weatherhill Inc (1 Sep 1977)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0834801264
- ISBN-13: 978-0834801264
- Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 0.8 x 20.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 671,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
The hermit-monk Ryokan, long beloved in Japan both for his poetry and for his character, belongs in the tradition of the great Zen eccentrics of China and Japan. His reclusive life and celebration of nature and the natural life also bring to mind his younger American contemporary, Thoreau. Ryokan's poetry is that of the mature Zen master, its deceptive simplicity revealing an art that surpasses artifice. Although Ryokan was born in eighteenth-century Japan, his extraordinary poems, capturing in a few luminous phrases both the beauty and the pathos of human life, reach far beyond time and place to touch the springs of humanity. This book offers a representative selection of his verse in both Chinese and Japanese modes.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first picked up this book because my yoga teacher occasionally finishes the class reading from it.
It's a collection of Haiku and other short poems by Ryokan. There is a foreword that explains who Ryokan was, however you can read this for yourself.
The poems are peaceful and entertaining. Sometimes sad, but often humourous. Mostly reflections of his solitary life, with many reflections on life in general.
I read from this book now and again, picking poems at random...
I find poems I really like, only to lose them! Discovering them again later :-)
This is a book of Zen poetry, so many poems refer to this way of life, begging, living alone, nature, the seasons etc.
It's cool.
I like the book very much.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ryokan was a monk living in 18th century Japan. Famed in Japan, he is almost unknown in this country. His sublime poetry comes closer than anything I have ever read to put the indescribable beauty of zen into words.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having practiced Zen Buddhism for a few years I found this book to be a very refreshing option amongst the hundreds of other Zen books out there. I expected a lot from this book knowing of Ryokan's reputation as one of the most respected Zen poets. What I have with this book is pure Zen, instant Zen. Simple and short verses that contain everything. They transport you to the Japan of years gone by. You can actually smell the cherry blossom ! Having read other Buddhist poets works I found I could connect easier to Ryokan because of his simplicity, humour and his sheer love of nature. If you love short poems try this book. If you practice Zen you should most definately own this book. I feel that the elegant simplicity of Ryokan's art may be lost on some not in those catagories however.
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