Haiku

:This is the article on the ancient Japanese form of poetry. For the BeOS open-source re-creation project, see Haiku (operating system). For the town in Hawaii, see Haiku-Pauwela, Hawaii.

Hokku or haiku?

Because the term haiku was popularized by Shiki only at the end of the 19th century, scholars are unanimous that it is technically incorrect to label hokku by pre-Shiki poets "haiku", a common practice in the 20th century. Pre-Shiki hokku were always written, either actually or theoretically (even when printed individually), in the wider context of haikai. Scholars, to avoid confusion, are returning to the proper and original term, hokku, for the opening verses written by all pre-Shiki writers, though popular writings still often use the anachronistic "haiku." The present-day confusion caused by imprecise terminology in the public mind and in literature on the topic is exemplified by Haruo Shirane's Early Modern Japanese Literature (2002), in which he refers to Bash?'s individual verse correctly as "hokku", then proceeds to discuss "composing haiku" while repeatedly using the term "hokku". In David Barnhill's 2005 anthology, he admits that "...the individual poems that Bash? created are, properly speaking, 'hokku'"; yet the title of his book is Bash?'s Haiku (State University of New York Press); he confesses to using the latter word, however, "since haiku is the more familiar term." Until the scholarly transition back to the chronologically-correct term is complete, the confusion will continue.

Related Topics:
Shiki - Scholar - 20th century - Literature - 2002 - Bash? - Verse - 2005 - Anthology

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Because this article is intended to be both historically and chronologically accurate and objective, haikai is used for the poetic practice of pre-Shiki writers; hokku is used for individual pre-Shiki verses; and haiku is used for Shiki and post-Shiki verses (excluding those of the present-day hokku revival). This follows original usage and correct chronological order. The solution to the present terminology problem is to make the public aware that it exists and of why it exists, and to maintain scholarly standards of accuracy while recognizing past or present popular usage.

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