Renga

Renga (連歌) is a form of Japanese collaborative poetry. A Renga consists of at least three ku (句 translates to stanzas in English), often many more. The opening stanza of the Renga chain (the hokku), later became the basis for the modern Haiku style of poetry.

Related Topics:
Japanese - Collaborative - Poetry - Haiku

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As the Renga was a popular poetry form, there are many sayings coming from Renga. The Japanese phrase "Ageku no hate" (挙句の果て) means "at last", as Ageku is the last stanza of Renga.

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The most favored form of Renga is Kasen, a chain consisting of 36 verses. Kasen means Great Waka Composers. As a rule, Kasen must refer to flowers (usually cherry blossoms) twice and once to the moon. These references are termed Hana-no-za (the seat of flowers) and Tsuki-no-za (the seat of the moon).

Related Topics:
Kasen - Waka

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The earliest recorded Renga appeared in the late of Heian period. It was in fact a Waka composed by two poets. This style is called Tan-renga (short Renga). Other styles are called Cho-renga (long renga).

Related Topics:
Heian period - Waka

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Two of the most famous masters of Renga were the Buddhist Priest Sogi (1421 - 1502) and Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694).

Related Topics:
Sogi - 1421 - 1502 - Matsuo Basho - 1644 - 1694

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(In Western literature the term "renga" has been applied to alternating accretive poetry, not necessarily in the classical Japanese form. Examples include Octavio Paz and Charles Tomlinson's sonnet-renga "Airborne", 1979, and Canadians P. K. Page and Philip Stratford, whose collaboration between 1997 and 1999 became the sonnet collection "And Once More Saw The Stars", 2001.)

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