A short definition
Haiku is a japanese form of poetry giving the possibility to note emotions, the moment that passes and wonders.It is a very concise form, seventeen syllables in three verses (5-7-5).
Seventeen times in Japanese (a syllable has one or two times), a lesser number in other languages (English is adapted to 3-5-3).
It is a very active form, probably the most used in the world. They are haiku contests (haiku taikai) on a selected theme, organized at world-level by big japanese companies or institutions. Often the first prize is to have his haiku read in public. It is not rare to see more than 10,000 competitors (30,000 in a contest of Japan Air Lines, 22,000 in the annual contest of the Mainichi newspaper). They are brillant fairs. Haikists give more importance to the kukai (see below).
Groups of haikists are very active on internet (Shiki List in particular)
That
form of poetry follows very strict composition rules (content and form),
(see the text about the rules).
Notes for use
Haiku is to publish, it is not a secret poetry.You shouldn't be afraid of having a positive judgement, a haiku can always be reconstructed with the same image.
In
some opportunities, haiku are written in meetings with people from 3 to
100, the kukai. The members meet in a room to compose et bring their
haiku to the evaluation of the group. Everybody presents his poems on a
sheet of paper, to be rewritten by another hand. Papers circulate
and the participants select what they consider to be the bests. The
result is announced, there is a vote and the points are calculated. The
best haiku is not the one that has the more points but the one selected
by the master.
They are different sorts of kukai :
a) the kukai in which a theme(s) is (are) given : haiku must contain a reference to this theme.
b) the improvisation kukai : there are no predefined theme. Members write their haik in the same place, in tete-à-tete. Generaly, a theme is given, but sometimes, the "shokumoku" way is used : members must write what they show (but without theme) or hear.
c) a kukai without theme in which members prepare their poem before.
Haiku is to be elaborated and reworked
It
is written generally in an instant, spontaneity is important. Without conscient
and laborious construction
work
in its first writing.
Source
It is always an instant of amazement, a situation that we note. Inspiration and motivation are various depending of the groups and authors.For some people, it can be the expression of an epiphany (the "aha moment"). That is the "zen" way, widely spread in the international "haiku" community. It is to be noted that most of the haikists know nothing about zen or know too little.
In
Japan, the 'aha moment' is not a popular concept at all. The writing is
sometimes viewed as a mental exercise.
The "haiku" approach is especially based on the buddhist attitude, to observe the things before to assess them ...
Haiku must be inserted in the 'Cosmos'. That is in the physical world, the seasons, the environnement, the traditions, our imaginary.
Haiku
is widely used in the english-speaking and slavic-speaking world; very
few and generally without rules in the french-speaking world.
Classification
Classical haiku is divided in four categories following the seasons :Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.
New
Year's Day was included in Spring. But when the Modern Japan pass from
the lunar calendar to the solar calendar, it was not possible to decide
whether New Year's Day would be included in Winter or in Spring. That is
the reason why it is independent. Then there are New Year's Day haiku.
Various types
Apart from the classical haiku, we find with the same form but with different subjects :- the senryuu : a personal feeling, sometimes mocking, telling about a situation of the every day life.
- the haibun : a prose in which haiku is inserted as an illustration. It is generally a journey description or a diary. Many Basho's haiku tell about the every day life. This form has quite disappeared in Japan.
- the scifu : haiku abou science-fiction, a very particular genre. Most of the Japanese haikists don't know even its existence.
- various
specialized genres with 'ku' as generic name.
Contemporary haiku
Modern haiku follow lesser rules (form and context) than classical ones.It is often :
-
more personal
-
more freedom in syllable compting, with only the alternance of short, long,
short verse
-
a more ordinary subject
-
a lack of seasonal reference
It
is however not a minimalist poem.