Eastern Poetic Forms: Tagalog and Japanese Traditions

Origins and Transcription of Tagalog Poetry

• Historical Documentation: Tagalog poetry was first formally transcribed or documented in the middle of the $18^{th}$ century ($1754$).

• Primary Source: The early records of these poems were compiled by Spanish friars Juan de Noceda and Pedro de Sanlucar.

• The Publication: The work is titled Vocabulario de la Lengua tagala, published in Manila in $1754$.

Specific Tagalog Poetic Forms

• Tanaga:

  • Definition: It is an indigenous or native Tagalog fixed poetic form.

  • Structure: It is composed of heptasyllabic lines, meaning it consists of four lines containing seven syllables each ($7-7-7-7$).

  • Composition: The poem is made up of two couplets.

  • Rhyme Scheme: It follows an $aabb$ rhyme scheme.

  • Example of Tanaga:         Catitibay ca tolos         sacaling datnang agos         aco, momonting lomot         Sa iyo, popolopot.

• Diona:

  • Definition: Another indigenous or native Tagalog fixed poetic form.

  • Structure: It is composed of octosyllabic lines with a monorhyme. This means it consists of three lines, each containing eight syllables ($8-8-8$), and all three lines rhyme with one another.

  • Cultural Context: It is frequently labeled as the "Pinoy Haiku."

  • Functional Usage: As a domestic song, it can function as either a courting song or a wedding song.

  • Example of Diona:         Mayag aco sa masaguing         Ang Malulubay na aquin         Malayo ang madarating.

Characteristics and History of Japanese Haiku

• Overview: Haiku is a traditional Japanese fixed poetic form categorized as light verse.

• Structure:

  • It is composed of three unrhymed lines.

  • The total syllable count is seventeen ($17$).

  • Line Distribution: The first and last lines contain five ($5$) syllables each, while the middle line contains seven ($7$) syllables, following a $5-7-5$ pattern.

• Historical Evolution: The haiku evolved during the $17^{th}$ century from the "hokku" (the opening verse of a "renga" or linked verse).

• Essential Components:

  • Kireji: Known as the "cutting word," this is usually located at the end of one of the poem’s three sections.

  • Kigo: A word that indicates the season of the year or the specific time of year.

• Famous Practitioners: The three most renowned practitioners of haiku belong to the Edo Period ($1603-1868$):

  1. Matsuo Basho

  2. Yosa Buson

  3. Kobayashi Issa

• Example 1 (Classic):     An old silent pond     A frog jumps into the pond—     Splash! Silence again.

• Example 2 (Modern):     Morning sun peeks in     Through the cracks of sleepy blinds     A new day begins.

Japanese Tanka: The "Short Song"

• Overview: Tanka is a Japanese fixed poetic form translated as "short song."

• Structure:

  • It is composed of five unrhymed lines.

  • The total syllable count is thirty-one ($31$).

  • Line Distribution: The first and third lines contain five ($5$) syllables each, while the other lines (second, fourth, and fifth) contain seven ($7$) syllables each, following a $5-7-5-7-7$ pattern.

• Thematic Sections:

  • Upper Phrase: Consists of the first three lines and usually contains a vivid image.

  • Lower Phrase: Consists of the last two lines and offers the poet’s personal ideas and insights regarding that image.

• Subject Matter: Topics are more often highly personal reflections on love and other powerful, intense emotions.

• Notable Practitioner: Ono no Komachi is recognized as one of the "Six Poetic Geniuses" and is considered one of the best practitioners of the tanka.

• Example of Tanka:     The flower fades fast     Caught in the cold morning wind     Petals fall like tears     Remembering your warm smile     Brightened my yesterday.

Japanese Renga: Linked Verse

• Overview: Renga has been the most popular type of Japanese poetry for nearly seven hundred ($700$) years.

• Structure: It follows a format of alternating three-line and two-line stanzas containing a $5-7-5-7-7$ syllable pattern.

• Variations in Length:

  • Junicho and Shisan: Consists of twelve ($12$) stanzas.

  • Gojuin: Consists of fifty ($50$) stanzas.

  • Hyakuin: Consists of one hundred ($100$) stanzas.

  • Senku: Consists of one thousand ($1000$) stanzas.

• Example of Renga:     Moonlight on the pond     Ripples spread from falling leaves     Autumn wind is near     A quiet owl calls at dusk     Night creeps slowly through the trees

Creative Writing Activity and Assessment

• Task: Create an original poem applying one of the Eastern Poetic Forms discussed.

• Assessment Criteria (Rubric):

  • Eastern Poetic Forms (Strict adherence to form): $10$ points

  • Creativity and Originality: $5$ points

  • Structure and Form: $5$ points

  • Clarity and Message: $5$ points

  • Grammar and Mechanics: $5$ points

  • Total Score Available: $30$ points