Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems of Ryokan [Paperback]

Ryokan (Author), John Stevens (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 2004

The Japanese poet-recluse Ryokan (1758–1831) is one of the most beloved figures of Asian literature, renowned for his beautiful verse, exquisite calligraphy, and eccentric character. Deceptively simple, Ryokan's poems transcend artifice, presenting spontaneous expressions of pure Zen spirit. Like his contemporary Thoreau, Ryokan celebrates nature and the natural life, but his poems touch the whole range of human experience: joy and sadness, pleasure and pain, enlightenment and illusion, love and loneliness. This collection of translations reflects the full spectrum of Ryokan's spiritual and poetic vision, including Japanese haiku, longer folk songs, and Chinese-style verse. Fifteen ink paintings by Koshi no Sengai (1895–1958) complement these translations and beautifully depict the spirit of this famous poet.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf is a welcome addition to the growing body of Ryokan's work available in English."— Tricycle

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (April 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590301080
• ISBN-13: 978-1590301081
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.3 x 7.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #650,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mad Wisdom and Compassion on a Lotus Leaf, January 15, 2005

By 

Hortensia Anderson "Hortensia Anderson" (nyc, ny, usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems of Ryokan (Paperback)

These are fresh and spare and unforgettable poems, reproduced by John Stevens with directness and fidelity to the original (or so I have been told by my multilingual friends.)

Ryokan was a nature poet but fully in touch with humanity and he had this touch in his poems such that each poem has many levels and can be appreciated through any or all.

"At night I got drunk on peach blossoms by the river.

I never cared about returning home,..."

How can you not love it? I can taste the dewdrops already...

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Japanese Zen poetry with little haiku!, September 18, 1998

By 

M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems of Ryokan (Paperback)

This book is an extremely well balanced collection of poetry and drawings by Ryokan. I know no Japanese to assess the "accuracy" of the translation, but the poems all stand as poetry in their own right in English. Many poems are similar to the Chinese Zen (Chan) poetry - drawing on keen observation rather than metaphor. Others are delightful pieces in which the poet gently laughs at himself. A few poems have a didactic intent but Ryokan's understanding of Buddhism leaves little room for the Buddhist scholastics. This small book should be on the "must read" list for anyone interested in religious poetry.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Pleasing Translation, November 28, 2003

By 

David P Oller (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems of Ryokan (Paperback)

I like the way Stephens includes enough information about Ryokan to help understand the poetry. As Ryokan notes himself, outside his Zen, he has no Poetry to offer.

Ryokan refusing to take a position of a Zen Abbot, instead goes back to the place of his youth and takes hermitage. "The cold wind gathers enough fallen leaves to build my fire."

His code of living avoids flattery as much as objuragation, he teaches with a tear, plays with children, and falls in love with a young nun. All of this brings forward our own starkling humanity!

Stephens does a master presentation in bringing this material together in such an artful way as to illuminate all sides of Ryokan with that of the reader themselves. And with that the poetry comes alive.