One Hundred Poems from the Japanese

One Hundred Poems from the Japanese presents Kenneth Rexroth's translations of Japanese poems from multiple periods and styles, with a focus on classical works. The collection includes pieces from notable poets like Princess Shikishi and Yosano Akiko. The poems appear in both their original Japanese forms and Rexroth's English translations on facing pages. Rexroth provides context through brief biographical notes about each poet and explanations of traditional Japanese poetic forms. The anthology spans themes of love, nature, spirituality, and human relationships across centuries of Japanese literary tradition. These translations aim to capture the essence and imagery of Japanese poetry while making them accessible to English-language readers. The collection explores the intersection between personal experience and universal human emotions, demonstrating how cultural and temporal distances can be bridged through poetry. Through these works, readers encounter perspectives on impermanence, beauty, and the cycles of both nature and human life.

Readers appreciate Rexroth's accessible translations that maintain the emotional resonance of the original Japanese poems. Many note the translations feel more like "versions" or "interpretations" rather than literal translations, which helps convey the spirit of the works in English. Readers liked: - Simple, clear language that preserves the imagery - Inclusion of both Japanese and English text - Brief but informative biographical notes about each poet Common criticisms: - Takes liberties with literal translations - Some readers prefer more scholarly/academic translations - Limited selection focuses mainly on love poems - Missing some context about Japanese poetic forms Ratings: Goodreads: 4.23/5 (1,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (180+ ratings) "These translations sing in English while keeping the concentrated power of the originals," writes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads reviewer notes: "The poems retain their delicate beauty without feeling stilted or forced."

The Ink Dark Moon by Jane Hirshfield, Mariko Aratani Ancient Japanese women's poetry in translation reveals the same depth of feeling and observation of nature found in Rexroth's selections.

Cold Mountain Poems by Han Shan These Chinese poems from a hermit-monk share the directness and natural imagery that characterize the Japanese poems in Rexroth's collection.

The Essential Haiku by Robert Hass This collection of works by masters Basho, Buson, and Issa presents the essence of Japanese poetic tradition that influences Rexroth's translations.

The River of Heaven by ::Astronomical Society of the Pacific:: These translations of Kakinomoto no Hitomaro's works showcase the classical Japanese poetry period that forms the foundation for many poems in Rexroth's anthology.

The Poetry of Zen by Sam Hamill, J.P. Seaton This collection spans Chinese and Japanese traditions, presenting the spiritual and natural elements that resonate throughout Rexroth's selections.

🌸 Kenneth Rexroth translated these poems without knowing Japanese, working instead from literal translations while consulting with native speakers to capture the essence of the original works. 🌸 The collection includes poems spanning from the 7th to the 13th centuries, featuring works from both the aristocratic court poets and Buddhist monks. 🌸 Many poems in the collection follow the traditional Japanese tanka form of 31 syllables arranged in a 5-7-5-7-7 pattern, though Rexroth chose not to maintain this structure in his English translations. 🌸 Rexroth was a prominent figure in the San Francisco Renaissance and is often considered a bridge between Japanese poetry and the American Beat movement, which was heavily influenced by Eastern philosophy and aesthetics. 🌸 Several poems in the collection come from the famous Hyakunin Isshu anthology, compiled by Fujiwara no Teika in the 13th century, which remains a cornerstone of Japanese literary education and is even used in a traditional card game called karuta.