Customer Reviews

Chiyo-ni: Woman Haiku Master

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Pat Donegan is a serious American poet who has taught with Allen Ginsberg and others at Naropa Institute and studied haiku in Japan with the then-leading Japanese master, Seishi Yamaguchi. Her co-translator, Yoshie Ishibashi, is descended from an old line of poets and artists and served as Seishi's and Donegan's translator, absorbing a deep appreciation for haiku in the process.

Ishibashi's research and Donegan's excellent sense of the English needed for the translations, plus the many rich extras in this carefully designed and organized book (full kasen by Chiyo-ni and colleagues, excellent intro, etc.) all combine to make this a must-have for any serious student of haiku. Goes a long way toward redressing the unwarranted bad rap laid on Japanese women haiku poets.

Notes by William J. Higginson (The Haiku Handbook, The Haiku Seasons, Haiku World, etc.)

As much as I love and respect the works of the well-knownmasters, especially Issa and Basho, I must admit that the haiku of Chiyo-ni,to me, rings truer!I treasure this outstanding collection, and how fortunate we are to have these at our disposal.Donegan and Ishibashi are to be congratulated and thanked.So perfectly clear and stunning is each poem that I read only a few at a time - to savor them.Highly recommended for anyone interested in haiku, and anyone who desires a complete collection of great haiku.

I really enjoyed this beautifully written biography of Chiyo-Ni, as well as the the banquet of her exquisite haiku. In addition, there are many examples of drawings/paintings done of her by her contemporaries. I would highly recommend this book, and have re-read the haiku many times. Chiyo-Ni is truly a master of her art and it is so fortunate that her works have survived for our enjoyment.

This biography of woman haiku master Chiyo-ni is interwoven
with beautiful translations of her haiku as well as intelligent background material on the form itself. A must-have.

If you'd given me a sheaf of Chiyo-ni's haiku before I read this book, I might have had a "so what?" moment rather than a "haiku moment." Writer Patricia Donegan and translator Yoshie Ishibashi teamed up to present us with an invaluable scholarly introduction to the life and work of the great Chiyo-ni. The 65 pages of biographical and cultural information bring Chiyo-ni and her contemporaries vividly to life, providing a context for the 100 haiku to follow. For example, Chiyo-ni was friends with prostitutes, and this was not considered unusual for a Buddhist nun; prostitutes were not shunned, for one thing, and both nuns and prostitutes had greater freedom than most of the women of Japan of that era.

The poems are presented in sections for the four seasons, each one in both phonetic and script Japanese, with an English translation, identification of the kigo (the season word), and sometimes notes on Chiyo-ni's life at the time she wrote the poem, the mood being expressed, or cultural references with which a Westerner would not usually be familiar.

The book is paperback but lovingly produced. An indispensable reference work for haiku readers and writers, and for those interested in the lives of women who managed to find personal and artistic freedom within societies that greatly restricted the lives of women.

This book is a great resource for beginning Japanese students.

English : Romanji : Kanji with Hiragana alongside.

Beautifully written haiku. It makes me feel guilty for using haiku as a comedic device. Sorry Chiyo-ni. Won't happen again.

Simple and delicious. A treasure. My favorite poem, "clear water / no front / no back" No more needs to be said.