About Issa

One of the four foremost poets of Japanese haiku tradition, Issa is in good company (Bashô, Buson, Issa, Shiki).

He was born in the little village of Kashiwabara in the mountains of Japan's Shinano Province on the fifth day of Fifth Month, 1763: June 15 on the Western calendar. He died in the same village on the 19th of Eleventh Month in the old Japanese calendar year that corresponds to 1827: the equivalent of January 5, 1828 on the Western calendar. In the long time between these dates he learned the art of haiku (then called haikai) and wandered the length and breadth of Japan, writing everywhere he went. Though his real name was Kobayashi Yatarô, he chose Issa (Cup-of-Tea) as his haiku name. He called himself "Shinano Province's Chief Beggar" and "Priest Cup-of-Tea of Haiku Temple." A devout follower of the Jôdoshinshû sect, he imbued his work with Buddhist themes: sin, grace, trusting in Amida Buddha, reincarnation, transience, compassion, and the joyful celebration of the ordinary.

Chronology

• 1763, Age 1
  In Shinano Province, Kashiwabara village, Issa is born to a family of middle-class farmers. He lives in a house across from the post horse stables.


• 1765, Age 3
  Eighth Month, 7th day, his mother dies.


• 1770, Age 8
  His stepmother Satsu arrives.


• 1772, Age 10
  Fifth Month, 10th day, Issa's half brother Senroku is born.


• 1776, Age 14
  Eighth Month, 14th day, his beloved grandmother dies. Ninth Month, Issa falls seriously ill with a fever.


• 1777, Age 15
  In spring, he leaves for Edo (Tokyo). For the next ten years, nothing is known of him.


• 1787, Age 25
  Eleventh Month, Issa appears in a record of Chikua's Nirokuan haiku school, under the name Ikyô.


• 1790, Age 28
  Third Month, 13th day, Master Chikua dies.


• 1791, Age 29
  Third Month, 26th day, Issa leaves Edo on a journey to visit haiku poets in Shimôsa Province. Fourth Month, 28th day, he returns home to Kashiwabara.

  even the tree by the gate
  in good health...
  evening cool

• 1792, Age 30
  Third Month, 25th day, Issa sets off on a journey to Shikoku Island.

  when will we meet again?
  I'm off to the will-o'-the-wisps
  in the far mist

• 1793, Age 31,
  He visits Nagasaki.

  Great Japan--
  a foreigner also attends
  the year's end service!

• 1794, Age 32
  He journeys to various places on Kyûshû Island.


• 1795, Age 33
  He visits Matsuyama City.

  lying down
  with a visiting butterfly...
  outer hot spring

• 1796, Age 34
  Wandering through Shikoku Island, he attends a full moon party at Matsuyama.

  all in a row
  on tatami mats...
  moon gazing

• 1797, Age 35
  In spring, Issa leaves Matsuyama City. From summer to autumn he stays at Fukuyama.


• 1801, Age 39
  Third Month, he returns to his home village. His father dies.

  splashing me
  the survivor...
  grassy dew

• 1810, Age 48
  Negotiations over his inheritance take place. From this year until 1818 Issa writes haiku in Shichiban nikki ("Seventh Diary").

  the closer I get
  to my village, the more pain...
  wild roses



• 1812, Age 50
  Eleventh Month, 14th day, he leaves Edo. Same month, 24th day, he returns to live in his native village of Kashiwabara.

  well here it is
  my final home?
  five feet of snow

• 1813, Age 51
  Second Month, he is living in Kashiwabara in a rented house. In autumn, his inheritance dispute finally settled, he moves into his family home.


• 1814, Age 52
  Fourth Month, 11th day, he marries Kiku ("Chrysanthemum": age 28).

  big chrysanthemum--
  a never-say-die
  demeanor

• 1816, Age 54
  Fourth Month, 14th day, a son, Sentarô, is born. Fifth Month, 11th day, he dies.


• 1818, Age 56
  Fifth Month, 4th day, a daughter, Sato, is born.


• 1819, Age 57
  Sixth Month, 21st day, Sato dies of smallpox. From this year to 1821, Issa writes haiku in Hachiban nikki ("Eighth Diary").

  this world
  is a dewdrop world
  yes... but...

• 1820, Age 58
  Tenth Month, 5th day, his second son, Ishitarô, is born.


• 1821, Age 59
  First Month, 11th day, Ishitarô suffocates while bundled on his mother's back.

  why did the blooming
  pink break?
  why?

• 1822, Age 60
  Third Month, 10th day, his third son, Konzaburô, is born. From this year until 1825, Issa writes haiku in Bunsei kuchô ("Bunsei Era Haiku Notebook").


• 1823, Age 61
  Fifth Month, 12th day, his wife, Kiku, dies.

  if only she were here
  for me to nag...
  tonight's moon!

  Konzaburô dies in Twelfth Month that same year.


• 1824, Age 62
  Fifth Month, 22nd day, he marries Yuki, a samurai's daughter (age 38). Eighth Month, 3rd day, they divorce. On the first day of Eighth Intercalary Month, he suffers a stroke, losing his power of speech for a while.

  how irritating!
  the wild geese freely
  call their friends

• 1826, Age 64
  Eighth Month, he marries Yao (age 32). For the next two years he writes haiku in Bunsei ku - jû kuchô utsushi ("Bunsei Era 9th-10th Years Haiku Notebook").


• 1827, Age 65
  Sixth Month, 1st day, a fire sweeps through Kashiwabara village, destroying Issa's house. Ninth Month, he moves into a grain barn on his property that survived the fire. Eleventh Month, 19th day, he dies of a stroke. Equivalent Western date: January 5, 1828.

  one dies out
  two die out
  lanterns for the dead

• [In the traditional Japanese way of counting age, a child is one at birth and gains a year with each New Year's Day.]