# The Spirit of Japanese Poetry

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THE SPIRIT OF JAPANESE POETRY
​The Wisdom of the East Series Edited by L. CRANMER-BYNG Dr. S. A. KAPADIA
THE SPIRIT OF JAPANESE POETRY
WISDOM OF THE EAST
THE SPIRIT OF JAPANESE POETRY
BY YONE NOGUCHI
LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1914
Note.—The cover design of this book represents the Cuckoo in connection with the Japanese Uta poem which will be found on page 30.
All Rights Reserved
CONTENTS
* PAGE
* Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
* I
* Japanese Poetry................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15
* II
* The Japanese Hokku Poetry................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................33
* III
* No: the Japanese Play of Silence................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................54
* IV
* The Earliest Japanese Poetry................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................71
* V
* The Poets of Present Japan................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................90
* VI
* Some Specimens................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................112
TO
ARTHUR SYMONS
THE POET
Out of the deep and the dark, A sparkling mystery, a shape, Something perfect, Comes like the stir of the day; One whose breath is an odour, Whose eyes show the road to stars, The breeze on his face, The glory of Heaven on his back. He steps like a vision hung in air Diffusing the passion of eternity; His abode is the sunlight of morn, The music of eve his speech; In his sight One shall turn from the dust of the grave And move upward to the woodland. Yone Noguchi.
EDITORIAL NOTE
The object of the Editors of this series is a very definite one. They desire above all things that, in their humble way, these books shall be the ambassadors of good-will and understanding between East and West—the old world of Thought and the new of Action. In this endeavour, and in their own sphere, they are but followers of the highest example in the land. They are confident that a deeper knowledge of the great ideals and lofty philosophy of Oriental thought may help to a revival of that true spirit of Charity which neither despises nor fears the nations of another creed and colour.
L. CRANMER-BYNG. S. A. KAPADIA.
    Northbrook Society,
       21 Cromwell Road,
          S. Kensington, S.W.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1947, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 76 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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