Description
LIGHT OF ANOTHER LIFE
Book Summary
This anthology brings together the poetic essence of Kobayashi Issa, one of the four great masters of the Japanese haiku, in an edition that captures his unique sensibility. Through his verses, the reader will discover a body of work marked by the author’s dual life experience: his life as a Buddhist monk and his intense worldly existence. The result is poetry that distills a profound empathy for nature and the smallest of beings, as well as a poignant grasp of aware, that capacity for wonder that constitutes the soul of the haiku.
What is it about?
Light of Another Life explores the poetic output of Kobayashi Issa, an author who knew how to unite in his haikus the spirituality of the monk with the joys and hardships of family life. The work reflects his particular view of the world, where the everyday is illuminated by a flash of transcendence. His poems, brief and seemingly simple, contain a deep observation of nature and a special affection for the humblest of animals, such as insects or frogs. Through them, Issa invites us to rediscover beauty in the small and to connect with the feeling of aware, that melancholic and luminous emotion born from the perception of the transience of life. The selection of poems presented in this volume allows us to appreciate the evolution and richness of a poet who, almost two centuries later, remains one of the most widely read and beloved in Japan.
Main Themes
- The Buddhist spirituality of the Pure Land school applied to the observation of nature.
- The duality between monastic life and worldly, family experience.
- Empathy and wonder for small animals and humble creatures.
- The Japanese aesthetic concept of aware, the poignant perception of the transience of things.
- The search for beauty and truth in everyday moments.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at lovers of poetry, especially those interested in the Japanese tradition and the haiku. It will also be of great interest to readers looking for a work that combines spirituality, sensibility, and a contemplative gaze towards nature. It is ideal both for those already familiar with the great masters of the haiku and for those who wish to begin in this poetic genre through the voice of one of its most human and accessible authors.
What this book offers
- A careful selection of the work of Kobayashi Issa, one of the fundamental poets of the Japanese haiku.
- An approach to Buddhist philosophy and the aesthetic concept of aware through poetic experience.
- An invitation to develop a more attentive and sensitive gaze towards nature and the small details of life.
- The opportunity to connect with an ancient poetic tradition that finds beauty in brevity and simplicity.
Technical Data
- Author: KOBAYASHI, ISSA
- Publisher: SATORI EDICIONES C.B.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: POETRY, POETRY BY INDIVIDUAL POETS
- Collection: MAESTROS DEL HAIKU
- Publication Date: November 2020
- Number of pages: 160
- Weight: 195 g
Editorial Review
Light of Another Life represents an excellent gateway to the poetry of Kobayashi Issa, an author whose humanity and sensibility distinguish him within the haiku tradition. The edition, framed within Satori’s "Masters of Haiku" collection, offers a selection that captures the essence of his work, combining spiritual depth with the emotion of the everyday. For the reader interested in Japanese poetry, this volume is a valuable acquisition, both for the quality of the content and for the editorial care, which allows one to appreciate the relevance and beauty of one of Japan’s most beloved poets.