Ichiban

A short history of Japanese Poetry ... cited from Jane Reichhold (Another Attempt to Define Haiku) http://www.ahapoetry.com/haiku.htm. Thank you!

The earliest poetry in Japan (9th to 11th century) was verbal, and known as Tanka. A verbal poetry to the gods and praising the monarchy, it consisted of five lines, with a syllable form of 5-7-5-7-7.

Contests in Tanka (9th to 12th century)led to a linked form of Tanka where one poet would write the first three lines of 5-7-5 and a second poet would answer and finish the last two lines of 7-7. This led to another poet 'answering' the first Tanka with another 5-7-5 and so on. This was called Renga, which became popular in the 14th century. There were two forms of Renga, a serious and a comic form. The famous Renga master, Basho (1644-1694), favored the comic style.

These contests required good hokku, 5-7-5 starting verse, and so Renga contestants began stocking up on hokku to prepare for impromptu contests. This led to the popularity of hokku and haikai (any verse in a Renga). As the 19th century began, M. Shiki declared Renga dead, combined the tems hokku and haikai and haiku was born.

What makes haiku - haiku? It has a form of three lines, 5-7-5. Since there are fundamental differences between English and Japanese this syllabic form can be adjusted. There is a break at the end of the first or the second line. To one or two concrete images add a third image that creates a new relationship; a twist, which reveals an unstated truth. It centers on events in nature. Minimize the importance of humanity.