Basho’s haiku on Mt. Koya: Call of a pheasant
Sep 7th, 2006 by Ad Blankestijn
how much I miss
my father and mother
call of a pheasantchichi haha no | shikirini koishi | kiji no koe
Basho
This haiku stone stands suitably on the huge ancient graveyard of Mt Koya, the spiritual home in the next world of all Japanese.
In Japanese folklore, the pheasant was believed to have a special affection for its babies. At the same time, Basho alludes to a waka poem by the priest Gyoki, in which the sad pheasant’s voice reminds the poet of his father and mother. Note the rhythmical repetition of the i sounds in this haiku.
[Basho kuhi on Mt. Koya]
Mt Koya is about 1hr 40 min by the Nankai Koya line from Namba St in Osaka; get off at the terminal, Gokurakubashi and take a 5-min cable car for the final haul up the mountain, then transfer to a bus to go to the graveyard.
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