Renga
Once in Japan a certain kind of poetry was a
collective effort called a rengan. Somebody would
write a hokku (see below), and then another person
would write two seven syllable lines. The hokku and
two seven syllable lines are called tanka. After
these two poets would write the tanka, then a three
line verse could be written by a third poet, and then
a two line verse, three line verse, two line verse,
etc... (Thus, after the hokku, it seems the renga
would be two verses, three verses, two verses, three
verses, back and forth until the end.) The hokku was
the exceptional aspect of the whole Renga.
Eventually, the hokku was left unto itself with no
more verses added on by other poets and this became
known as a Haiku. Thus, Haiku's are solitary,
isolated, and could be termed lonely events.
Renga's were performed amongst the court and
monasteries, and eventually amongst the merchants and
farmers, etc... during social events and before
drinking parties, etc...
A poet began a Regan with a five syllable line,
then seven syllable line, and lastly five syllable
line called a hokku. The hokku would be given to
another poet that would write two seven syllable lines
(that's the tanka). Then the second poet would give
this tanka to a third poet. This third poet would
write three lines (but I'm not sure how many
syllables). Then the poem would be passed on to a
forth poet to write two lines, a fifth poet to write
three lines, a sixth poet to write two lines, etc...
(two, three, two, three, etc...). Renga's are these
long poems that could be one hundred verses. Rules
developed in which the seasons would have to change,
no story could develop, and spring blooms had to be
mentioned at least three times, etc...
Of course the rules are static patterns, but I
don't know all the rules so that's dynamic. Anyways,
who wants to make a tanka with me. I'll write a hokku
(five syllable line, seven syllable line, five
syllable line), and then somebody can write two seven
syllable lines. If we are patient enough we could
continue slowly, waiting for a response, and then
somebody could write a three line response, then
somebody else a two line response, and continue to
make a renga for who knows how long.
It might be interesting to see where this goes.
No rules other than the amount of lines to a verse,
and we are to add on, so we are to keep in mind how
many lines came before the one somebody might add.
Thus, if somebody writes a two line verse before you,
then you are to write a three line verse (2-3-2-3-2-3,
etc...)
Here's the hokku as follows:
The bright moon,
the wind moves leaves -
geese not seen.
(And now somebody can write two seven syllable
lines of any topic they wish, feel free.)
let's make a tanka, and eventually a renga,
SA
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