Ikebana Melbourne: November 2015

Sunday, 15 November 2015

HAIKU

At the November meeting our guest speaker was Dr Hironobu Kitaoji, Director of Japan Seminar House.

He spoke about various aspects of the haiku poetry form and its evolution from the 12th to the 19th century. This included the observation that as art forms both haiku and ikebana were indicating something beyond what was immediately present in the work itself. He also pointed out that the reader of haiku was able to discover something new, by the poet shifting the point of view in the second part of the poem.

By illustration he proposed such subtle interpretations as the idea that a storm wind was chasing flying blossoms rather than causing the blossoms to scatter.

"chiru hana o iokaketeyuku arashi kana"

"Oh, the storm! Chasing the scattering blossoms"

Fujiwara no Sadaie, 1162 - 1241

In addition Dr Kitaoji spoke warmly about the late Norman Sparnon. He said that in the aftermath of WWII Norman's eyes were opened with wonder when the people of Tokyo came in huge numbers to look at the beauty of an ikebana exhibition even though they were surrounded by the devastation of the city.

* * *

Following the guest speaker, a demonstration was given by Keiko Mii, of the Ohara School.

Keiko said: My haiku is Matuo Basho's (1644-1694)

あじさいやかたびらどきのうすあさぎ
紫陽花や帷子時の薄浅黄

Ajisai ya    Katabira doki no    Usu asagi

Hydrangeaー
        light blue in
                   hemp kimono

Katabira (帷子) in this haiku is a hemp kimono for summer wear, whose colour is pale blue, like that of Hydrangea.