hatsuyume ya masashiku kozo no hanashi-game
it was last year's
freed turtle
—Gonsui
A few days ago I posted a photo of hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, and I mentioned that the Japanese are all about firsts in the new year. This haiku gives us another of those common firsts: the first dream of the year. Gonsui's dream of turtles would be a very auspicious dream—turtles that he set free in the previous year, doubly so.
Liberating animals once or twice a year is an old Buddhist practice, and that is what Gonsui is referring to here. Turtles are a very special creature in Japan. In mythology the turtle is associated with long life—1000 years, they say—and it is also a very thankful creature, always returning any kindness shown to it. In olden times fishermen would throw back any turtles they caught, but not before treating them to a bit of saké. No doubt they hoped the turtle would be thankful and would come back to reward them.
In Gonsui's dream, was the turtle (or turtles—Japanese doesn't specify singular or plural) he released showing up to express gratitude and perhaps give a gift of long life? I'm sure Gonsui hoped so!
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David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. |
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