Blossom Awakening - by Saigyo (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The essential introduction to Saigyō, one of Japan's greatest and most enduring poets.

Born in the twelfth century during a time of great political upheaval and warfare, Saigyō made the shocking decision in his youth to resign from his respectable post as a guard to the emperor's family and pursue a life of Buddhist renunciation, wilderness wandering, and poetry. Over his lifetime he became one of Japan's most celebrated poets, and his aesthetics of spiritual longing and aching identification with the natural world left an indelible imprint on his country's literary culture for centuries to come.

With 193 poems on 11 themes like the moon, journeys, mountain abodes, love, and the dreamlike world, Blossom Awakening collects Saigyō's most poignant and impactful work, revealing him as a spiritual seeker whose perceptivity and insight remains an inspiration to this day. Translators Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt present the poems with their original Japanese text and provide an introduction and commentary that illuminate the political, religious, and literary dimensions of Saigyō's life and work.

About the Author

KAZUAKI TANAHASHI is a world-renowned calligraphic artist, a Zen teacher, author, environmentalist, peaceworker, and translator, particularly of the works of Eihei Dogen. He is author or translator of numerous books, and his art has been featured in shows throughout the world.

PETER LEVITT is a poet and Zen teacher who lives in British Columbia. He was authorized to teach in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki by Norman Zoketsu Fischer. He is the author or translator of several collections of poetry and is the recipient of the prestigious Lannan Foundation Award in Poetry. He also teaches creativity in writing and other endeavors in various venues.