Issa and Being Human

Haiku Portraits of Early Modern Japan

Issa and Being Human cover

Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) wrote thousands of one-breath verses depicting people from various walks of life in early modern Japan: farmers, priests, samurai, merchants, artisans, actors, singers, musicians, geisha, prostitutes, beggars, outcastes, thieves, and sumo wrestlers. This book explores these haiku in their historical, cultural and biographical contexts in an effort to understand what "being born human" meant to Issa, a deeply spiritual and (often) savagely satirical observer of his society. HaikuGuy.com 2017. 226 pages.

E-book ISBN-10 0-9912840-6-1/ ISBN-13 978-0-99912840-6-1

Paperback ISBN-10 0991284054/ ISBN-13 978-0991284054

Order a paperback ($9.99).

Order an e-book for Kindle ($2.99).

a companion book for Issa and the Meaning of Animals

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