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Haiku (俳句, listen ⓘ) is a type of short form poetry that originated in Japan. Traditional Japanese haiku consist of three phrases composed of 17 phonetic units (called on in Japanese, which are similar to syllables) in a 5, 7, 5 pattern; that include a kireji, or "cutting word"; and a kigo, or seasonal reference.
- Haiku in English
A haiku in English is an English-language poem written in a...
- Kireji
Kireji (切れ字, lit. "cutting word") are a special category of...
- Haiku in English
Learn about haiku, a Japanese poetic form of 17 syllables in three lines, from Britannica. Explore the history, masters, and examples of haiku, as well as its influence and adaptation in other languages.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- What is a haiku?The haiku is a Japanese poetic form that consists of three lines, with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third...
- What are haiku traditionally about?Traditionally, writers of haiku have focused on expressing emotionally suggestive moments of insight into natural phenomena. This approach was soli...
- Which notable poets wrote haiku?Influential haiku poets included Bashō, Buson, Issa, Masaoka Shiki, Takahama Kyoshi, and Kawahigashi Hekigotō. Bashō is usually credited as the mos...
- When did the haiku become popular in the English-speaking world?The haiku began gaining mainstream recognition outside Japan in the early 20th century. In the English-speaking world, the form was popularized by...
Aug 9, 2022 · Learn the basics of haiku, a short, unrhymed poem that follows a specific three-line, seventeen-syllable format. Explore the history, structure, and rules of haiku, and see examples of traditional and modern haiku in English and Japanese.
- Lindsay Kramer
- Reedsy
- “The Old Pond” by Matsuo Bashō. One of the four great masters of Japanese haiku, Matsuo Bashō is known for his simplistic yet thought-provoking haikus.
- “The light of a candle” by Yosa Buson. The light of a candle. Is transferred to another candle — spring twilight. Another of haiku’s Great Masters, Yosa Buson is known for bringing in a certain sensuality to his poems (perhaps owing to his training as a painter).
- “Haiku Ambulance” by Richard Brautigan. A piece of green pepper. fell. off the wooden salad bowl: so what? For an example of a haiku that doesn’t adhere to traditional conventions, look no further than Richard Brautigan’s cheeky “Haiku Ambulance”.
- “A World of Dew” by Kobayashi Issa. This world of dew. is a world of dew, and yet, and yet. The third master of Japanese haiku, Kobayashi Issa, grew up in poverty.
- Definition of Haiku. Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that consists of short, unrhymed lines. These lines can take various forms of brief verses. However, the most common structure of haiku features three lines of five, seven, and five syllables, respectively.
- Common Examples of Poetic Images in Haiku. Historically, haiku is associated with describing the seasons and their changes. In fact, traditional haiku feature kigo, which is a word or phrase that specifically indicates a particular season.
- Structure of Haiku. Traditionally, a haiku is a Japanese poem featuring three lines and consisting of simple, yet impactful, words and phrases. This language is structured in a pattern of 5-7-5 moras.
- Writing Haiku. It may seem that writing haiku is simple due to the brevity of the form or by meeting the syllable count and pattern. However, this art form requires careful choices in language and the order of words to create effective imagery, evoke an emotional response from the reader, and allow for deeper interpretation and meaning.
Learn about haiku, a Japanese verse form that depicts the essence of a moment in time with an image or a pair of images. Explore the history, adaptation, and variations of haiku in English and other languages, and see examples by classic and contemporary poets.
Learn about haiku, a traditional Japanese poetic form with seventeen syllables in three lines. Explore the history, philosophy, and influence of haiku on American poets and art.
