Abstract

This study is a perspective on the lyricism expressed in the haiku of Kobayashi Issa who is a representative in the late haiku period of Edo based on the Haiku reciting about “butterfly”.In fact, poetic words are expanded in the meanings or implications on the basis of the traditionalism of Japanese poetry. Accordingly Issa’s haiku is also beeing studied the same way. However, in this paper, the lyric elements those are noticeably expressed in Issa’s haiku, “butterfly” has been examined over the symbolism on “butterfly” from the existing classic poetry based on the conventional elements. As a result, ‘humour’ and ‘compassion for the weak’ which are already well-known characteristics of Issa Haiku were expressed very well in the ‘butterfly’ haiku too. In addition, his several works were discovered on which “distinctive expression on colors” reflecting the lifestyle well in those days and “the image of living together” were drawn very well. It is revealed that these characteristics are very unique because they are very difficult to be found from the previous period of haikus and even contemporary haikus and therefore they are the elements shown solely and distinctively on Issa’s haikus. Furthermore, these kinds of expression are key elements that help understand lyricism of Issa’s haikus and characterize them. And, through the “butterfly” the modern-people-friendly lyricism revealing the element of “Humanism” via haiku was well implemented. Moreover, this kind of lyric expression is a powerful expression of sensitivity that may not be discovered from the works of the masters of Haiku like Matsuo Basho, Yosa Buson in Edo period. And, even if it is appreciated or translated with the sensitivity of modern lyric poetry, it is never awkward. So, he is a lyricist who foresaw modern sensitivity and put it in practice.

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