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Jisei-poets is a branch of :iconpoetryevolution: "Come and see"


A death poem (辞世の句, jisei no ku) is a poem written near the time of one's own death. It is a tradition for literate people to write one in a number of different cultures, especially in Japan.

Death poems have been written by Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Zen monks (the latter writing kanshi (Japanese poetry composed in Chinese), waka or haiku), and by many haiku poets. It was an ancient custom in Japan for literate persons to compose a jisei on their deathbed.

Poetry has long been a core part of Japanese tradition. Death poems are typically graceful, natural, and emotionally neutral, in accordance with the teachings of Buddhism and Shinto. Excepting the earliest works of this tradition, it has been considered inappropriate to mention death explicitly; rather, metaphorical references such as sunsets, autumn or falling cherry blossom suggest the transience of life.

As a once-in-a-lifetime event, it was common to converse with respected poets before, and sometimes well in advance of a death, to help finish writing a poem. As the time passed, the poem might be rewritten, but this rewriting was almost never mentioned, to keep from tarnishing the deceased person's legacy.

  Salon: Japanese Death Poems
  Japanese Death Poetry
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_po…
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Jisei history

The first Japanese history, set down around 712 AD in the Kojiki, cite the first examples of lyric poetry in Japanese culture. Japanese poetry had its early beginnings in the style known as tanka, or "short form". This poetry (31 syllables, arranged 5-7-5-7-7) was an early form native to Japan. Up until the 16th century, nearly all poetry was composed in this form. The development from tanka to haiku, or "opening phrase", is bridged by another style, the renga, or "linked poem" (31 syllables, 5-7-5 three lines, 7-7 two lines). Two or more poets usually composed the renga. First a poet would compose the opening, followed by a second poet who would close the poem. Over time it became popular for poets to write only the first part. This eventually developed into haiku. Haiku poetry depicts a single image, is almost always naturous in theme, and usually contains 17 syllables (5-7-5).The only formal rule is the fixed number of syllables, and even this is sometimes violated. This page started out with only poetry written by haiku poets on the verge of death, but I have since expanded the contents.

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Precious Virtue - TokuHou by KisaragiChiyo
Graceful, Handsome - Tansei by KisaragiChiyo
Gou - Powerful, Australia by KisaragiChiyo
Akarui 2 - Light by KisaragiChiyo
Death art
Portait of myself by Amrahelle

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sword play by olivertam
Katana by 2753Productions
Sword Play by ZacharyKane

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:iconiscariot-priest:
Iscariot-Priest Featured By Owner Jun 7, 2010
Thanks for collecting my poetry, but what about them strikes you as "death poetry"?
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:iconalmcdermid:
almcdermid Featured By Owner Jun 4, 2010  Professional Writer
I've been asked to approve inclusion of 'tropical renga' into you gallery, which I'm happy to do, though you might also want to check with my writing partner (I'm sure she'll approve).
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:iconsaw-taylor:
SAW-Taylor Featured By Owner Jun 4, 2010  Hobbyist Photographer
Tropical renga is a really good poem :)
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:iconalmcdermid:
almcdermid Featured By Owner Jun 4, 2010  Professional Writer
Thank you. I kept wanting to take it in some direction other than where my collaborator wanted to go, which created this great tension. I'm really happy with the result.

My tongue-in-cheek death poem: [link]
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:iconsaw-taylor:
SAW-Taylor Featured By Owner Jun 5, 2010  Hobbyist Photographer
Who is your writing partner? I want to see his poems.
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(1 Reply)
:icon2753productions:
2753Productions Featured By Owner Jun 3, 2010  Professional Digital Artist
Thank you for the invitation to the group, I am far from a poet and only rarely do work which you might include, so at this time I decline - thank you though very much.
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:iconsaw-taylor:
SAW-Taylor Featured By Owner Jun 3, 2010  Hobbyist Photographer
Okay, thx :)
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:iconsaw-taylor:
SAW-Taylor Featured By Owner Jun 2, 2010  Hobbyist Photographer
Ohh, thank you ^^
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:iconkisaragichiyo:
KisaragiChiyo Featured By Owner Jun 2, 2010
Thank you so much for inviting me to your group and for submitting my works! This is really an interesting group!!!^__^
I'm planning to write more jisei!;)
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