haiku

thumb|right|250px|Haiku by Matsuo Bashō reading "Quietly, quietly, / yellow mountain roses fall – / sound of the rapids" is a type of short form poetry that originated in Japan. Traditional Japanese haiku consist of three phrases composed of 17 morae (called on in Japanese) in a 5, 7, 5 pattern; that include a kireji, or "cutting word"; and a kigo, or seasonal reference. However, haiku by classical Japanese poets, such as Matsuo Bashō, also deviate from the 17-on pattern and sometimes do not contain a kireji. Similar poems that do not adhere to these rules are generally classified as senryū.

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Haiku is a short form of poetry that originated in Japan, traditionally consisting of three phrases with 17 syllables arranged in a 5-7-5 pattern, often including a seasonal reference and a "cutting word" that creates a pause or shift in meaning. While classical Japanese poets like Matsuo Bashō sometimes departed from these strict rules, haiku remains a distinctive and influential poetic form that captures moments of observation and reflection in minimal language.

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Commons category: Haiku (poetry)
native label: 俳句

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Article

32 sections

Contents

Traditional elements
''Kiru'' and ''kireji''
''On''
''Kigo''
Examples
Origin and development
From hokku to haiku
Bashō
Buson
Issa
Shiki
Exposure to the West
Blyth
Shimoi
Yasuda
Henderson
Haiku in other languages
English-language haiku
Italian-language haiku
Spanish-language haiku
Southeastern Europe
Related forms
Haibun
Haiga
Kuhi
Famous writers
Pre-Shiki period
Shiki and later
See also
Notes
References
External links

Haiku originated as an opening part of a larger Japanese genre of poetry called renga. These haiku written as an opening stanza were known as hokku and over time they began to be written as stand-alone poems. Haiku was given its current name by the Japanese writer Masaoka Shiki at the end of the 19th century.