Fading Dreams of Ancient Warriors :: Haiku of Japan #47

夏草や兵どもが夢の跡
Natsukusa ya tsuwamono-domo ga yume no ato


summer grass...
the only remains
of the soldiers' dreams
—Basho


(Tr. David LaSpina)



(Print by Hasui Kawase)

This is one of Basho's most famous verses. He wrote it when he was visiting the ruins of Takadate Castle, once a fort of the great Fujiwara clan. Centuries before the castle had been besieged and all within killed. Now all that is left is the summer grass. The brave deeds of those warriors is gone, forgotten, nothing more than fading dreams and echoes on the landscape. Basho was so overcome with this realization that he burst into tears and wept openly.

The tale is a tragic one. Yoshitsune, one of the more famous warriors in Japanese history and a main player in The Tale of the Heike, had received the protection of Fujiwara no Hidehira and lived peacefully at his town. Upon Hidehira's death, his son, Yasuhira, promised to uphold his father's pledge of protection. However, Yoritomo, Yoshitsune's jealous half-brother, twisted the heart of Yasuhira against Yoshitsune. Yasuhira betrayed him, surrounding his residence and killing everyone within, forcing Yoshitsune to commit seppuku.

He remains a popular figure in Japan. He is thought to have been kind and honorable, but naive.

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Don't miss other great haiku in the Haiku of Japan series!

#1–10 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #1
#11–20 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #2
#21–30 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #3
#31—40 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #4
#41 — Falling Camellia
#42 — Snow Falling
#43 — Morning Glory Shack
#44 — My Father's Face
#45 — Dragonfly Hunter
#46 — Fallen Butterfly

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I post one photo everyday, as well as a haiku and as time allows, videos, more Japanese history, and so on. Let me know if there is anything about Japan you would like to know more about or would like to see.

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	David LaSpina is an American photographer lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time.