From Basho:
My Translation
From the pine,
Learn the pine,
From bamboo,
Learn the pine,
From bamboo,
Learn bamboo.
Original
松の事は松に習へ、竹の事は竹に習へ
Pronunciation
Matsu no koto wa
Matsu ni narae,
Take no koto wa
Take ni narae!
Literal translation
About a pine,
Learn the pine,
About a bamboo,
Learn the bamboo.
Source: Toshiharu Oseko’s Basho’s Haiku, citing Hattori Doho's "San-Zoshi." Doho was a student of Basho and explained many of his poetical teachings.
It’s quite a nice little poem, simple but meaningful. The main message I get from it is to understand something, study it in itself without preconceived notions or added complexity. There is also a connotation of oneness with nature, of finding meaning in natural things we see every day.
Reading the poem reminds me of all the theories of literary criticism I read in college, some great, and some not-so-great. I think a lot of those intellectual architectures, while they have some uses, hinder us from really appreciating art.
Year:
2011
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