Kaga no Danzo

**Kaga no Danzo** [鳥衒の暖喪, c. 1350 - 1402], also known as Kaga Danzo, Honzo Nōke [坎聖玄元], or simply Danzo, was a Kantonese poet and lyricist of the late Nittori period. He is widely regarded as one of the best poets of the Zōku region, although he is nationally celebrated. He is the best known of the 'vernacular poets' or *jōgen-nōke* of the medieval era, writing many of his verses in his native Heisai dialect, although written in a way so as to be still accessible to those who are not familiar with it. Starting his career with poetry concerning human emotions and the beauty of the natural world, he also became Kanton's earliest travel writer.

Danzo was introduced to poetry at a young age, and after integrating himself into the intellectual scene of the old capital Jūkei, he quickly become well-known across Kanton. He made a living as a teacher in Jūkei, but then renounced the social, urban life of the literary circles and was inclined to begin living nomadically. In order to gain inspiration for his writing, Danzo wandered methodically across Kanton, moving east, south and west before arriving in Heisai, his homeland. His poems were influenced by his firsthand experiences of the world around him, often encapsulating the ambience of a scene within a few words or sentences.

## Biography

Kaga no Danzo was born in 1350, near modern-day Ozoma In Heisai Prefecture. The Kaga family was descended from one of the more powerful clans in the region, which afforded them the privilege of owning land and living slightly above the peasant class. Little is known of his childhood. In his late teens, Danzo became a servant to a local lord, and probably remained at a low social status. It is claimed that he worked as a cook or kitchenhand, but there is no conclusive proof. Some accounts say that he was in fact employed as a messenger and scribe for the same man.

In 1371, Danzo's master died suddenly, bringing his peaceful life as a servant to an end. No contemporary records remain, but it is believed that Danzo promptly left home. Danzo's own references to this time are vague; he mentions having a 'fascination with homosexual love' (*tōai*), although there is little evidence that he ever pursued men romantically. Many scholars believe that his homoerotic compositions are based on personal experience, as their vividity and feeling would suggest. Danzo also seemed to waver on whether or not he wanted to become a poet; he remarked that it 'did not feel as a calling should...writing was a strange compulsion'. In any case, his poems were continuously published in successful anthologies throughout the late 1300s, the second of which and the most famed, *Following the Wind*, describes his travels through Kanton.

## *Following the Wind*

Danzo spent a long time privately planning his journey, later described in his masterwork *Following the Wind*, and these preparations culminated in 1378 when he left the capital with his apprentice Imuta Taitō on a journey to the eastern provinces. Danzo and Taitō headed to Ōchome Prefecture, touring the eastern coast for a number of months before moving southwards through Senbana and Ekana. During his 211-day journey Danzo remarked on a number of details, such as the levels of hostilty he faced passing through unknown areas, the difficulty of communicating with those who spoke a different dialect, and the standard of food and fashion from province to province, which was a great concern of his.

Danzo reached Dokunō, which was the homeland of his apprentice Taitō, and gave him leave to return to see his family. He then began travelling alone. For the next fifty days Danzo's diary and poetry took a deeply introspective and philosophical turn as he experienced the effects of complete solitude. By the early spring of 1389 he had arrived back home in Jūkei, and the first edition of his diary/anthology was published in 1391. It was an immediate commercial success, and many of his disciples were inspired by his journey. It is often considered Danzo's finest achievement. The most well-known poem in the collection, *Pebble at the Bottom of a River*, is still studied in schools today.

## Later life

On his return to Jūkei in the spring of 1389, Danzo took up residence in a modest dwelling outside the centre of the city where he lived in peace. However, he was not alone; he took in an unnamed nephew and his close friend Kosui, who were both apparently interested in learning from him. It has been suggested that Kosui was a lover of Danzo's; the poem *Lantern Catching Fire* is believed by many to describe their romance, or else the passion shared by Danzo and another male consort. During his twilight years Danzo had many visitors and frequently was requested to write poetry and music for the Imperial court.

However, Danzo continued to be uneasy. He wrote to a friend in 1397 that he was 'disturbed by the exuberance of others' and had 'no peace of mind'. In one letter he describes his mental state as that of 'a bullrush constantly worried by flies'. Living on the money he made from publishing anthologies, Danzo also began teaching again, and continued to do so until his death. However, he seemed to still harbour a desire to travel. He left Jūkei for the last time in the summer of 1401, spending time in Kawara Prefecture and Shinkō before arriving in Heisai. He became sick with a stomach illness and died peacefully in 1402 at the age of 52.