Isoe Kanma

**Isoe Kanma** (阳添坎岩; *isoe kanma*) (3 November 1885 - 27 January 1942) was a poet and writer of *koyame* verse who was active during the 19th century. He is regarded as one of the most popular and important poets in modern Kantonese literature.

## Early life

Kanma was born in the town of Hitsune, Tagi Prefecture, to a working-class family. His father was a rice farmer and his mother worked in a local inn as a cleaner. He attended the English literature department of Hitsuen University, but left soon after without graduating. As a student he became interested in medieval poetry, and made many attempts to revive the medieval style in his early works.

## Literary career

In 1904, Kanma moved to the city of Keikai in Chiha Prefecture and began submitting his poetry to various literary magazines. He managed to publish numerous poems in the famous magazine *Kiruseki* that brought him attention as a rising young poet, and served as his introduction to a wide circle of writers and poets. From these contacts, Kanma formed his own literary group, which was innovative in including painters, musicians and actors along with writers.

In 1909, he became one of the founding members of the literary magazine *Takami,* where he published his first collection of verses, *Chiamaten* (Heretic) which took the poetic world by storm. Through his use of rich imagery and innovative structure, the verses are credited by critics as having set a new baseline for modern Kantonese poetry. Kanma's initial success was followed by *Muiri* (Memories, 1912), in which he evokes memories of the world from a child's prospective.

In 1918, Kanma was arrested for adultery and jailed for two weeks. Though charges were later dropped, the experience obviously had a deep impact on him, as this event was mentioned briefly in his first poetry anthology, *Irui Hana* (Sage Blossoms, 1919) as having led to a religious influence in his outlook on life. This became more evident in his second anthology, *Kekizu* (Selection of Pearls, 1920), and his third, *Ukiyan* (Layers of Gold, 1926). He strove for what he called 'true peace' or 'pure peace', a concept he borrowed from pacifist Chiryo teachings. This concept is highlighted in his later works, *Subatsu* (Ink Drawings, 1923) and *Maka no On* (Sparrow Eggs, 1925).

## Children's verse

In 1920, Kanma joined the *Akii Ka* (Red Bird) literary magazine and was assigned to create children's verse (*koyame*) and collect nursery rhymes from around the country. The same year, he relocated from Keikai to Awaryō in Tagi Prefecture.

In 1921, Kanma published *Bira no Me* (Dragonfly Eyes), a collection of *koyame* poems that had been previously published serially in *Akii Ka*. In 1921 *Yaba Mama* (Mother Goose), a collection of English poems translated to Kantonese, came out, and in the same year *Doki no Gami* (Letters From A Hare), a collection of nursery rhymes, was published. In 1927 Kanyan published a collection of essays on children's folk songs, *Chomei Iwa* (Fields of Green).

## Later life

Always enjoying travel, Kanma visited a great number of developing towns and cities across Kanton, though he felt particularly drawn to the west coast, his homeland, and would often spend winters in his home prefecture of Tagi.

Kanma moved back to Keikai in 1926, living at first in the southern ward, then moving to a residence near Keikai Harbour in 1928. While living there he published his fifth anthology, *Keikai no Ippoiboku* or Strange Tales from Keikai, which is a humorous and mostly caricature depiction of the residents of the city. Despite forays into comic writing, however, Kanma continued to be inspired by classical Kantonese literature, as seen in *Ōhai yo Ōkumo* (Open Seas and Great Clouds, 1929)

In 1935, Kanma was diagnosed with diabetes, though remained active even after almost going blind due to associated complications. In 1940, he went on a tour of Omo Prefecture, which was then the most prosperous and fast-developing of the country, and published his last poem, the patriotic *Uri no Ōnara* (Our Great Nation). In 1942, Kanma's health worsened significantly, and he died of complications from diabetes on 27th January. His grave is located in Ōyame Graveyard on the outskirts of Keikai, a *mukan* which is dedicated to deceased writers and poets.