Mandala

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Mandala, Maze

***** Location: Asia, worldwide
***** Season: Non-seasonal Topics
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

Labyrinth, see below

In Tibetan Buddhism, a mandala is an imaginary palace that is contemplated during meditation. Each object in the palace has significance, representing some aspect of wisdom or reminding the meditator of some guiding principle. Tradition dictates the shapes, sizes and colors of these objects. There are many different mandalas, each with different lessons to teach.
Most mandalas contain a host of deities as well as inanimate objects. An excellent overview and glossary of mandala components is available on the web.
http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/online/mandala/

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Mandalas exist since old times in almost all cultures of our earth.
Read more about it here:

My approach to Mandala Therapy
http://happyhaiku.blogspot.com/2004/08/mandala-therapy.html

Gabi Greve

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World Labyrinth Day, May 2
kigo for summer

Reference

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If you are not familiar with the terms and differences between these things, check out here:
The differences are explained well. The site then discusses manadals as the bases for labyrinths. If you follow the link to "sacred geometry," you find that it is the basis for mandalas.
Ed Schwellenbach
www.crystalinks.com/labyrinths.html

Ed has looked into the matter a little more:

Also find an interesting, albeit commercial, site about sacred geometry and madalas at www.charlesgilchrist.com/SGEO/Gal902.html

Another one is
www.familytravelfiles.com/ezine/articles/747.asp

The headline reads "USA/Europe: Corn Mazes Earmark the Season." Contains locations and times for several USA mazes. Use links to find acceptable pictures of mazes at Chattanooga, Tennessee; Portsmouth, Rhode Island; and Bennington, Vermont. It seems that most mazes are
open from about the first of September to the end of October.

This site also contains links to others resources including companies that convince farmers to convert some of their cornfields to mazes for profit.
http://www.cornfieldmase.com/
provides maps to mazes in Canada, US, Mexico, UK, and Italy.

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Worldwide use

Europe
In certain cases, labyrinths could even be seasonal. Belgium and its neighbouring countries have maize labyrinths, cultivated so as to be week-end attractions when the maize has reached a certain height -- I remember my colleagues in the office last autumn showing pictures of their children there.

These pages (from France) give an impression. I found similar references to maize labyrinths in Germany and Switzerland.

http://www.labyrinthus.com/laby_sortileges_1.php
http://www.labyrinthus.com/en_images_2.php

Isabelle Prondzynski

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More than in other countries, Switzerland seems to embrace the appropriateness of labyrinths in public places, of which more than 50 have been established in recent years, in addition to dozens of other on private property.



Look at many more samples here:
http://www.crystalinks.com/labyrinths2.html

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England

There has been a seasonal labyrinth in the summer just a few milesaway from where I live in England. They call it "The Maize Maze" :

walking the maize maze amazed walking
Eryu

(See below for more about the labyrinth.)

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India

Many traditional Indian Mandalas have traditional names associated with the deities.
The Mandalas are associated with a Mantram and sometimes even a Nyaasam [ Meta Elucidations in Mantrams ]

Various Indian Rituals involve making Mandalas of various types with different materials.
Every morning in most Indian[ Hindu Buddhist Jain] houses a Kolam [ a mandala design] is drawn at dawn and even at dusk in some places. Mandalas are also called Chakras [ Wheels]. Mandalas are considered representation of Devi [ Laksmi .Kaali Durga etc. ] in contrast to Linga[shiva] and Saalagrama[ Vishnu]

Actually a Mandala represents a unique Cosmos we may.
Vishnu Mandala ~ Shakthi Mandala ~ Rudra Mandala ~ Vighneswara Mandala ~ Buddha Mandala ~


Rudra Mandala ~
the flame resonates
in fragrant silences


Padma Mandala
rahasyam pratyaksham Padmini
Padma-Sambhavi

The Padma Mandala
mystery manifests lotus faced Devi
abloom on a lotus

Padma ~ Lotus, Lakshmi ~

"Mandala" is a very difficult word to translate from Sanskrit into another language as i see and as you surely must be aware too.

Narayanan, 2005

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Things found on the way

Mandala, a Magazine about Tibetan Art


http://www.mandalamagazine.org/

................................ More Mandala Sites
Center of the Circle (contains many links) Mandala information by Jytte Hansen
Building a Sand Mandala The Rossi Collection of early Tibetan mandalas
Mandala: Buddhist Tantric Diagrams
Houston Chronicle article : The Art of Tibetan Sand Painting
StarWheels (futuristic mandala paintings) Mandala Art
The Mandala Project
The World Mandala Project
The MandalaZone



Some mandala are available as drawings for coloring:
nuri-e, nurie, nuri e ぬりえ【塗（り）絵 / 塗（絵】
Ausmalvorlagen

. nuri-e 塗り絵 - 塗絵 - ぬりえ drawing for coloring .

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Buddhist Mandalas in Japan
Kongookai Mandala, Taizookai Mandala

Mandalas are a type of Buddhist painting especially common in the Esoteric sect of Japanese Buddhism, which has many secret, mystical rituals. According to the beliefs of this sect, truth can not be expressed through just words but requires illustrations such as paintings. One such type of painting is a mandala.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/mandala1.shtml

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....................... Crop Circles, a sort of Mandala

Very often seen in England
http://www.temporarytemples.co.uk/default.html
http://www.temporarytemples.co.uk/imagelib/A-2001.html

With bizarre references to UFOs, science fiction films and what not.
http://www.circlemakers.org/totc2004.html
http://www.cropcircleconnector.com/index2.html


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HAIKU

............................... autumn mandala -
............................... in my garden
............................... with pure joy



Read many more Nature Mandala Haiku here:
http://happyhaiku.blogspot.com/2004/08/mandala.html

Gabi Greve

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an old mandala
dervish dancers
by night

Geert Verbeke

Look at the picture here
http://home.alc.co.jp/db/owa/ph_detail?photo_sn_in=1537

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floral mandala
has journeyed to her center
tranquil and serene

Look at a beautiful white Water Lily Mandala
http://home.alc.co.jp/db/owa/PH_detail?photo_sn_in=1489

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mandala -
my footsteps' path
fases away

© Gabriela Fleitas, 2005

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From http://www.wonderhaikuworlds.com/index.php
Narayanan Raghunathan

Click at the LINKs to see the mandala !


Sthaanu Datta Mandala

Agni Nyaasa Mandala
http://www.wonderhaikuworlds.com/haikufromphoto.php?image=28


Datta Guru Mandala
http://www.wonderhaikuworlds.com/haikufromphoto.php?image=71


Naaraayaneeyam~
http://www.wonderhaikuworlds.com/viewdetail-haiga.php?post=65


spanda-grham
aadi-madyaantha viheenam
shaashvatham sthiram
[Sanskrit]

the home of spandas
without beginnings middles ends
eternal indestructible

Haiku and Image by Narayanan Raghunathan

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maha-mantra-mandalam
saakshi-saakshaatkaaram
parabrahma tatvam
[Sanskrit]

the great mandala of mantras
the witness in true fullfillment
the knowledge of brahman

Haiku and Image by Narayanan Raghunathan


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Related words

***** Labyrinth .. -non-seasonal topic . Also called maze.
In Europe, many mazes are often made of maize. People walk them in summer and autumn.
Maize as a plant is a kigo for autumn in Japan, when it is ripe and ready to eat. So a Maize Maze could be considered a kigo for Autum, according to the plant.


office show --
wee jack in the labyrinth
become wallpaper

Isabelle Prondzynski

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busy bee -
in the pollen bed
a labyrinth

Carol Raisfeld

Look at the Photo here
http://home.alc.co.jp/db/owa/PH_detail?photo_sn_in=708

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corn maze
from a bird's eye view
no exit

nangini

Look at the Photo and more haiku here
http://home.alc.co.jp/db/owa/PH_detail?photo_sn_in=1517

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green labyrinths
cover the infinite sky ~
twittering birds ~

Narayanan Raghunathan, India Saijiki
Read the full sequence HERE ! 　

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March

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March (sangatsu　三月)

***** Location: Worldwide
***** Season: Mid-Spring
***** Category: Season

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Explanation


Haiku sangatsu in the Edo period relates to the climate of present-day April,
but some festivals are dated in our present-day March.

. . Names of Japanese months and their meanings . .


. . . . SPRING
the complete SAIJIKI


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March －Human beings as a part of nature
Sangatsu 三月

March is said to be middle spring according to the calendar. As soon as March comes, though being still cold, we feel relieved and relaxed. And also March is the month of the turning of the seasons from cold to warmth. It is traditionally said that the hot and cold weather last until the equinoctial week. The cold days and warm days come alternately. Accordingly the typical seasonal words which express atmosphere of the first half of March is perhaps harumeku (signs of spring) and the latter half, atataka (warmth).

　March 3rd is momo-no-sekku (the Feast of Peach Blossoms, hina-matsuri, the Doll's Festival). This festival which we display dolls, wishing for the girls' happiness of future is a beautiful and graceful celebration, which features historical and regional customs. About March 6th is keichitsu. It is said that the insects such as grubs, snakes and frogs come out of hibernation. The trees come into buds, the grasses sprout up, hills and fields become lively or looks vivid. We have an impression that flowing water gets slight warmer from its color and movement. Yamawarau (mountains smiling) or mizu nurumu (water getting warm) which express these delicate changes.are appropriate seasonal words.

At this time of the year people have turned their eyes more closely on nature. We express the impression of this season by using such seasonal words as tanishi (mud snail), shijimi (shijimi clam), migusaou (grass coming out of water), moroko (minnow), yanagihae (daoe, fish like leaf of willow), haru shiitake (spring shiitake mushroom).
Omizutori is held on March 13th at Nigatsu-do Hall of Todaiji Temple. The day is the climax of Shuni-E. It is the fire festival of telling the arrival of real spring in Kansai.

　Higan (equinoctial week) is believed to start on about March 18th and to last to about 24th. Spring Equinox Day is the middle day of this week. From this day real spring starts. Many kinds of leaf buds and grass buds can be seen in Saijiki (a glossary of seasonal terms for haiku composers) includes a variety of words to express these phenomenon of the buds of leaves and grasses. The life of people also becomes busy farming like tauchi (plowing the fields) or hatauchi (tilling the fields) naedoko (seed bed), tanemaki (seeding).
And also fishermen are busy catching fish that gather to the coast for spawning like sawara (Spanish mackerel), nishin (herring). On a warm and fine day, when heat is waving the air, people are tempted to go out to the field for pleasure. It is referred to as noasobi. When we find the many seasonal words such tsumikusa (gathering herbs) and the names of herbs or wild flowers in Saijiki, we appreciate how the Japanese love nature and live together with nature and find out pleasure in nature.

　It can be said that our ancestors responded to and lived together with nature, though they did not realize that human beings were part of nature. We believe that it is very important for us to recognize and maintain their perception because we live in the time when the destruction of nature is underway.

Inahata Teiko
http://www.kyoshi.or.jp/12month/12month-3.htm

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Japan in March

March 1-14: Todai-ji Temple:Nara-shi , Nara

This is part of the monks training program known as shuni-e. On the night of the 12th the monks light large torches and wave them around from the temple's gallery. Following that a ceremony is performed in which water is drawn from a well.

March 3: Hina Matsuri


This is also referred to as the Doll Festival, Peach Festival or Girl's Festival. People pray for the happiness and healthy growth of girls and families with young daughters set up a display of dolls inside the house.The tradition goes back to the Edo Period (1603-1868).

The dolls wear costumes of the imperial court during the Heian period (794-1192) and are placed on a platform with various tiers of five to seven layers.

The top tier is for the Emperor and Empress. A miniature gilded folding screen is placed behind them as it was in the real court. The second tear has three ladies-in-waiting. The third has five male court musicians; the fourth has ministers sitting on either side of trays of food; the fifth has guards with an orange tree on the left and a cherry tree on the right.

The family celebrates with a special meal of diamond-shaped rick cakes and shirozake which is rice malt with sake.

The dolls are returned to their storage space after the festival is over since there is a superstition that families that are slow in putting the dolls away will have difficulty in marrying off their daughters.


March 6: Utsu-ue Matsuri

At Yatsufusa-jinja Shrine, Kushikino-shi, Kagoshima, a rice-planting festival with a dance performed by men wearing ox masks.

March 12: Water-Drawing Festival (O-Mizutori)

This is held at Todaiji, Nara and is one of the most famous fire festivals in Japan. At midnight priests carry large torches to mark the drawing of the sacred water from the Wakasa well below Nigatsudo.

May 13:Kasuga-taisha Shrine

The Kasuga-taisha Shrine: Nara-shi, Nara holds its spring festival on this date. There is a horse ceremony involving a sacred horse being led into the shrine precincts. There is also a special dance performed called the Yamato-mai.

The shrine itself dates back to the 8th century. Just as a matter of general interest this makes the shrine about seven centuries older than the "discovery" of the U.S.

March 14: White Day (see Valentine’s Day )

This is one of the holidays basically invented by business. A company that made marshmallows started a campaign in 1965 urging men to repay the woman they got valentine's chocolate from with their soft, fluffy marshmallows. The term White Day came from the color of the candy.

Gradually other candy makers got into the act, the marshmallows were dropped, and men were encouraged not to just give candy but also to give gifts like women's handkerchiefs.

March 17: Fujimori-no-Taasobi

This is a special rice-planting festival at Oi Hachimangu Shrine, Oigawa-cho, Shizuoka. It features 27 different dances and dates back to around a thousand years ago.

March 20 or 21: Shunbun no Hi: Vernal Equinox Day

This is the day that the sun crosses the equator and the length of night and day becomes equal. It is basically a day to show affection for all living things.

Higan refers to the period of time three days before the vernal equinox to three days after it. During this time respects are paid to ancestors and visits are made to family graves to clean them and offer flowers and incense to ancestral spirits.

Late March: Graduation Ceremonies

The Japanese school year ends in March so this is a time of graduation ceremonies. Generally the principal opens with an address after which there are speeches from guests. Certificates are given individually to the students. After they receive their certificates the students sing Hotaru no hikari (light of fireflies).

Japanese Festivals of all months
January .. .. February .. .. March .. .. April .. .. May .. .. June .. .. July .. .. August .. .. September .. .. October .. .. November .. .. December
http://www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/japan/jfestival.html


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Worldwide use


long past midnight
prayer wheels creak
March wind

Sonam Chhoki

. BHUTAN 　


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Southern Hemisphere, Tropics ...
Adjustments for each region must be made.

Calendar reference kigo

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Quotes ... Links ... References ... Chores

Spring - Quotes for Gardeners

Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo
http://www.egreenway.com/months/monmar.htm

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Things found on the way

A short haibun by susan delphine delaney

the hawks circle, essentially floating, on the thermals (upward heat currents caused by the solar heating of dark, dense ground objects like rocks), watching for mice or other small mammals moving in the dead, winter-beaten fields.

at this time of year, mating pairs come together to hunt, as part of their yearly pairing ritual. later in the year, indeed, for most of the year, each hawk will hunt alone.

march thermals
red-tailed hawks
mousing in pairs

published in simply haiku in a renga called 'tailgate party".

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March Photo Collection
http://www.acclaimimages.com/search_terms/march.html

March Calendar & Holidays .. .. worldwide

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March 19 2004 in Baghdad
Photos of a demonstration against the ocupation and for Iraqi unity in Baghdad.


On the day before the anniversary of the US led invasion of Iraq, a demonstration took place in Baghdad in tandem with protests around the world against the violence of the occupation. The protest was also a powerful show of unity between Sunni and Shia muslims. The marches started with the Shia's in Khadamiya, and the Sunni's across the river in Adamiya. The two groups met just as the Shia's came over the bridge, and emotions were high as they merged into one. They then walked for together to a public square where speakers denounced the occupation and called for unity between all Iraqis.

Curtesy to Andrew Stern
http://indybay.org/news/2004/03/1674128.php

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HAIKU

First day of Spring,
clear sky to Mt. Shasta--
emptiness is form.

Michael P. Garofalo, 2000, Cuttings

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March Haiku
by Victor P. Gendrano
http://www.geocities.com/vgendrano/marhaiku.html

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Haiku from March 2003
by Gary Warner
http://www.haikuworld.org/gary/mar2003.gar.html

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Aozora haiku publication : March 2003
Editor : Jasminka Nadaskic Diordievic, and submissions (s)
http://www.tempslibres.org/aozora/en/hpub/pub0303.html

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A Japanese Garden of Verse

in midst of odd new leap-year
finding two full moons of March
while February had none

Haikusmith 03/09/99

http://www.webcom.com/~erique/haiku/haiku399.html

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Related words

***** Calendar reference kigo


. . . . SPRING
the complete SAIJIKI


. WKD : March - KIGO CALENDAR .

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Mackerel Clouds (iwashigumo)

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Mackerel Clouds, Sardine Clouds
(saba-gumo, iwashi-gumo, Japan)

***** Location: Japan, worldwide
***** Season: All Autumn
***** Category: Heavens

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Explanation




sardine clouds, iwashigumo 鰯雲 (the most common name in Japan)
fish-scale clouds , urokogumo 鱗雲
mackerel clouds (literally) sabagumo 鯖雲

This kigo has been used since the Edo period. When you see these spotted clouds in the pale blue sky, it makes you feel like remembering your childhood, when you talked with your friends about phantastic future plans. Or you look back on your own life, things you could not achieve, things you had to give up, things you used to enjoy. Seeing your life moving on like these clouds, for some reason you feel better.
That was one explanation of my haiku sensei.

Of course, fishermen say you expect a good catch of sardins and mackerels, when these clouds appear, hence the name.
Gabi Greve

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True Cirrocumulus is comparatively rare, and is one of the clouds that gives the beautiful "mackerel sky" appearance.
Cirrocumulus generally occurs in more or less extensive sheets, consisting of very small elements in the form of grains, ripples, etc., (Plate 56). These sheets often show one or two systems of undulations. They may have fibrous margins (Plate 57).
Cirrocumulus also occurs in patches in the shape of lenses or almonds, often very elongated and usually with well-defined outlines.

A great link about Clouds.
http://www.mid-c.com/manmar/Cirrocum.htm


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http://www.melma.com/mag/70/m00089270/a00000556.html

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Worldwide use

England
We also call it a Mackerel sky in England. It usually means rain after a clear spell in summer - usually within 12 hours. But then it rains a lot here.
Eryu

USA
a mackarel sky here is a high cirrus cloud that is cut into pieces by windswells. so it looks like it is sliced. it also looks like a mackarel. here it is an almost infallible sign of wind, and that rain will come in three days.
Susan Delaney

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Things found on the way

Haiku no Hakoniwa, My little Garden
Japanese Haiku and Photos
春　　 夏　　 秋　　 冬　　 無季
Spring Summer Autumn Winter Nonseasonal
http://www.geocities.co.jp/Bookend-Kenji/1083/

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Herringbone Clouds



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HAIKU

sardine clouds -
my haiku floating
amongst them

。。。　。。。　。。。　Sardinenwolken -
。。。　。。。　。。。　meine Haiku schweben
。。。　。。。　。。。　zwischen ihnen

In the blue sky today, they are drifting along as I pull my weeds, pull my thoughts ...
Gabi Greve
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/happyhaiku/message/903


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鰯雲日かげは水の音迅く　　　
Iida Ryuuta 飯田龍太

Here is a great picture to go with the haiku.
http://www.geocities.co.jp/Bookend-Kenji/1083/iwasigumo.htm

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鴟尾光る寺屋根高き鰯雲

Mackerel sky
over the temple,
The roof ends glistening.
http://wadaphoto.jp/haiku3.htm


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Related words

***** Cloud, clouds(kumo) worldwide. Various Kigo.


.SAIJIKI ... HEAVEN
Kigo for Autumn 　


. Mackere, Sardine - fish kigo .


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December 2005

nnnnnnnnnnnn TOP nnnnnnnnnnnnn

Latest Additions

..................................................................... December 2005

Erika Schwalm - In Memoriam

Hammock (worldwide)

Sonoran Saijiki, USA

Pottery, Pots and Plates (yakimono) Japan

Meditation (dhyana) India, worldwide

Cow, Oxen (ushi) Japan
Including
Bullfighting, toogyuu; bulls fighting, ushi zumoo; getting the bulls together, ushi awase; getting the horns to clash, ushi no tsuno tsukicooling cows and horses, gyuuba hiyasu; cooling horses, uma hiyasu cool cow, hiyashi ushi; cool horse, hiyashi umawashing cows, ushi arau; washing horses, uma arauBull Ritual, ushi kuyoo; great field planting ritual,　ootaueBull Festival, ushi matsuri; Bull Festival of Uzumasa, God Madara, madara jin

Wattle in Bloom <> KIGO

Moths <> KIGO

Swift, Mauerseegler <> KIGO

Plumbago <> KIGO
(School exams KCSE / KCPE, Kenya )

Crane, Grus japonensis (tsuru) Japan
Including:
Hooded crane, nabezuru; white naped crane, manazuru; crane with a read head, tanchoo; crane with black wings, sodeguro tsuru, black crane, common crane, kurozuru;Demoiselle crane, anehazuru; Sandhill crane, Canada Crane.cranes standing in the cold, itezuru; frost for the cranes, shimo no tsuru; cranes in a frosty night, shimoyo no tsuru.Cranes going back: hikizuru, kaeru tsuru, tsuru saru; cranes staying behing, nokoru tsuru.

Radish (daikon) Japan
Red Radish (hatsuka daikon), Rettich, Radieschen. Includingpickled leaves of radish, kukizuke. pickled radish, takuanzuke. boiled radish, furofuki.to pickle radish, daikon tsukeru. to dry radish, daikon hosu. dried radish, hoshidaikon.cut and dried radish, kiriboshi. radish flowers, daikon no hana.

Baseball Winter Meetings, USA
World AIDS Day December 1, worldwide (Kenya)

Kiyose for Turkey A saijiki under construction.

Salmon (sake) Japan , shake, King salmon, cherry salmon (yamome), shad, steelhead trout, Spring King Salmon Derby, coho (silver) salmon start to run, Golden North Salmon Derby (Alaska)

Mango Blossoms, India

................ Stilll collecting for an entry:
Moose, collecting
Queen Anne's Lace (wild carrot) <> Collecting
Whales, Whale watching <> Collecting
Yellow Flames (Peltophorum Pterocarpum) <> Collecting
Kigo from Sweden

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Please send your contributions to Gabi Greve
worldkigo .....

Back to the WHC Worldkigo Index
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/

Erika Schwalm

Erika Schwalm - In Memoriam

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Was born in 1941 in Frankfurt. She started writing haiku with the help of Dr. Tadao Araki, Fuyuo Usaki and Tohta Kaneko. In 1988 she founded the "Frankfurt Haiku Circle" and belongs to the board of the German Haiku Society.

She is as well a teacher of Sogetsu Ikebana, which she studied in the course of many travels to Japan. Her original way is connecting ikebana and haiku. She has published two Ikebana books.

Erika is corresponding with ikebana and haiku-groups all over the world.

Copyright (c) 2001 World Haiku Association.

http://www.worldhaiku.net/poetry/de/e.schwalm.htm

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Erika, you will live on in our hearts and haiku!

Representing the Members of WHCworldkigo

Gabi Greve
Director of WHCworldkigo
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WHCworldkigo/

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surrounded by flowers
a life turns back
to earth

Erika, I will miss you so much! We had already made plans for a meeting in Japan !

Gabi

Let me quote a few words from your last letter:

Dear Gabi,
Mit groser Freude verfolge ich Deine Seiten im Netz und die intensive und geduldige Korrespondenz.
Fuer all Deine Muhe mochte ich Dir herzlich danken.
Herzliche Gruesse
Deine Erika.

November 25, 2005

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she visits
her native place
no more roses




Geert Verbeke
http://users.skynet.be/geert.verbeke.bowls

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in the sadly universal way of things, i never told erika how much her presence on this list meant to me.

erika was a haiku buff and an ikebana buff.

so am i.

the two arts are so much the same.

consider this instruction from an ikebana text:

take about eighteen inches from the end of a magnolia branch and trim away most of the leaves, leaving a branch with a few leaves that conveys the essence of what a magnolia is.

is this not what we do with our haiku moments...scribble down the haiku moment and later, write a proto-haiku that captures the moment, then trim, trim trim until it is the essence of that haiku moment.

erika, you live on in our hearts.

and we will pass you on to others.

ooo ooo ooo

Another happy memory with Erika:

a few years back i gave a talk on haiku to the sogetsu ikebana club here in dallas. (erika was sogetsu school).

they told me that they were doing a 'linked form' of ikebana that day. each woman had brought a black 'container'. the leader brought common flowers to be included in each arrangement and each woman had brought some of her own choosing to add to her arrangement.

a woman would make an arrangement and the next was to link to it and shift the next arrangement in another direction.

'why, that is an ikebana renga', i cried.

'what???', they cried.

later i shared this story with erika. erika was the only person on the planet (that i knew) who 'got' what i was talking about. plus she had done many ikebana renga....

it is so wonderful and rare to find someone who understands what you care about.

susan delphine delaney md
plano, texas

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Erika the haijin
butterfly, moves on freely
into another cosmos

Narayanan Raghunathan ~

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snuffed out by a draft
the candle's scent lingers
in the moonlight

Norman Darlington

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Erika, ich werde dich nie vergessen!

Gerd

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ich bin so traurig über die Nachricht von Erikas Tod...

Im Oktober konnte ich sie in einem Seminar ihres Frankfurter Haiku-Kreis noch einmal treffen, sie war so voller Pläne und hat mir zwei Tage vor ihrem Tod sogar von ihrer geplanten Japanreise 2008 gemailt und mich gefragt, ob ich mir nicht überlegen wollte daran teilzunehmen. Unbegreiflich, dass sie uns so kurz darauf verlassen musste. Ich kann es noch gar nicht fassen!

Eine Erinnerungs- und Gedenkseite für sie einzurichten, war eine sehr schöne Idee von dir. Ich habe ihren unermüdlichen Einsatz für das Haiku und die Menschen, die sich mit dieser Art der Dichtung beschäftigen immer bewundert. Sie wird eine sehr große Lücke hinterlassen.

Andrea

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Introducing Erika and her work at the World Kigo Database / Ikebana


Her last contribution to the database



Christmas Tree Ikebana, December 2005

World Kigo Database: Christmas Tree


Advent

Bamboo

Carneval

Emperor's Birthday

Lampionflower




Boys festival, May 2005

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......................... More Contributions for Erika

Auf der Homepage steht ein Satz, der mich ganz besonders anspricht...

Thank you and come back soon !　

Das ist, was sich jetzt viele Menschen wünschen.

Gasshô
Mario

WHCgerman

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my numb hands
in the winter twilight –
a friend is leaving

Sonja Koranter, Slovenia

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Bad Nauheim –
May rain silently
falling into itself

(I met Erika, for the first and the last time, in May 2005, in Bad Nauheim, where the 1st European Haiku Congress was held. Erika was so full of energy, enthusiasm ...)

putting a twig
into the ikebana vase ...
it breaks

a willow tree –
its reflection reaches
the opposite river bank

a blade of grass
under the heavy snow –
still green

Alenka Zorman, Slovenia

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In the winter night
a star shinning within ikebana:
her white-like-snow soul

A fallen petal -
the winter wind carries it
to the Heaven

Vasile Moldovan

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For the Erika,
with a large smile
and her kind eyes,
a friend for ever

From Romania, Laura Vaceanu,
President of Constantza Haiku Society

We miss you so much our dear friend.

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Lampionflowers (hoozuki)

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Lampionflowers (hoozuki)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation




hoozuki 鬼燈 － 鬼灯 - ほうずき Chinese lantern plant
ground cherry, lampion flower, winter cherry, husk tomato
Physalis alkekengi

With its swollen body it carries a lot of good luck (fuku 福）and is thus a good omen, bringing good fortune to its owner.
It is also the protector deity for women, healing ladies illnessen and helps making them pregnant.

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kigo for mid-summer

hoozuki no hana 鬼燈の花 (ほおずきのはな)
flowers of the lampionflower





kigo for late summer

ao hoozuki 青鬼燈 (あおほおずき) green Hoozuki
..... 青酸漿（あおほおずき）

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kigo for all autumn

hoozuki 鬼燈 lampionflower, lampion flower
..... 酸漿（ほおずき) / 鬼灯
“The Demons Lantern”
ground cherry
Physalis alkekengi Linn. var. franchetii (Mast.) Hort



Ikebana by Erika Schwalm


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observance kigo for late summer

hoozuki ichi 鬼燈市 ほおずきいち lampion flower market
..... 酸漿市（ほおずきいち）
shiman rokusen nichi 四万六千日（しまんろくせんにち）
46000 days
rokusen nichi sama 六千日さま（ろくせんにちさま）



The famous market for Demons Lanterns is held at the Asakusa Temple in Tokyo and used to be a speciality already at the Edo period. It is held for two days on July 9/10 and is in itself a kigo for summer. More than 250 stalls sell their plants.

The 10th of the 7th lunar month is also a special day to get some religious merit at the Asakusa temple. If you visit on that day, it is worth the merit of 46000 days (shiman rokusen nichi) or (126 years) of temple visiting.

Why 46000 days, you might ask?
This is supposed to be the number of rice grains in one Japanese measure of rice, Japan being an old rice-growing nation and wasting even one grain of it was a big sin.

. Asakusa Kannon　浅草観音


Hozuki were also made into a powerful medicine and sold at the Hozuki market and the monthly temple prayer days (ennichi) at Asakusa.
If a special hozuki tea was prepared and drunk on the tenth day of the seventh lunar month, it would cure dysenterie and intestinal parasites. This lore dates back to a dream of a man in the Shiba district, who saw the Atago deity in his dream.

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Physalis alkekengi
(Bladder cherry, Chinese lantern, Japanese lantern, or Winter cherry; Japanese: hōzuki), is a relative of P. peruviana (Cape Gooseberry), easily identifiable by the larger, bright orange to red papery covering over its fruit, which resemble Chinese lanterns.
It is native from southern Europe east across southern Asia to Japan.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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Look at more photos
- Hoozuki ほうずき　-


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Worldwide use



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Things found on the way





hoozuki ningyoo 鬼灯人形 Hozuki Dolls



hoozuki asobi ほおずき遊び」 playing with Hozuki


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source :　blogs.yahoo.co.jp/yukio8600



CLICK for more photos !

With its swollen body it carries a lot of good luck (fuku 福）and is thus a good omen, bringing good fortune to its owner.
It is also the protector deity for women, healing ladies illnessen and helps making them pregnant.

. tsurushibina, tsurushi bina つるし雛 / 吊るし雛 small hanging hina dolls .


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HAIKU

hoozuki ya tsumi-nokori tsumu too bakari

Demons Lanterns
Picking the ones left over,
Just ten of them

Ozawa Hekido 小沢碧童


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hoozuki no tasuke o sugishi kaze ni iro

passing the lampionflower
the wind gains
color

Hata san
© Photo and Haiku : Denhata Saijiki

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kago kabau hoozuki-ichi no yoi no ame

Covering up the baskets!
evening downpoor at the
Hozuki-Market

Mizuhara Shuohshi 水原秋櫻子


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- - - - - Playing with lampionflowers and haiku


鬼灯でピエロ人形創りたり　

from the lampionflower
we make the doll
of a pierrot



鬼灯を鳴らすを知らぬ子等ばかり

so many children
do not know how to blow
the lampionflower



鬼灯はさびしき庭の灯となれり

lampionflowers
in a lonely garden
they are the only lanterns

source : 牧陽子 Maki Yooko


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Related words

***** Market selling Morning-Glories, asagao ichi　朝顔市
Market at Iriya in Edo, Iriya asagao ichi 入谷朝顔市

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. Legends from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

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Gifu, 洞戸村 Horado
A local Kappa (gawairo ガワイロ) changes into a Hozuki. If people pick it up, they will become sick and die.

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Miyagi
If you plant Hozuki in the garden of your estate, people will get sick.

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東京都 Tokyo

A boy got an intestinal worm infection （カイチュウ） and had a terrible stomach ache about once a month. Then he got some Hozuki from Jizo お地蔵様 and ate it. This healed his illness.

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Yamagata, 小国町 Oguni
If farmers plant Hozuki and tear grass (hatomugi ハトムギ Coix lacryma-jobi), there will be many sick people in the village.


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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

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Leaf Watching (momijigari)

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Leaf watching, leaf peeping (momijigari)

***** Location: Japan, worldwide
***** Season: Late Autumn
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

"hunting for red leaves" momijigari
紅葉狩 (もみじがり)
going out to enjoy a picnick and the colored leaves of autumn. The famous temples of Kyoto and in other area were especially crowded during this season.
.... momiji mi 紅葉見（もみじみ）
..... kanpuu 観楓（かんぷう）




Look at some photos from my Japan :
Leaf watching, Leaf peeping







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Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


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HAIKU

紅葉狩まずは田楽食べてをり .. .. .. 雛菊
momijigari mazu wa dengaku tabete ori

watching red leaves -
first of all lets eat
delicious rice dumplings

Little Chrysanthemum
http://www.interone.jp/~touri/garo/garo.htm .. .. 紅葉

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.. .. .. .. .. momijigari

autumn leaves
he comes only
for his coat

golden leaves
I place another bracelet
on buddha

dogwood leaves
their circles in circles
the pond

the lighter shades
of yellow and red
morning sun

the park bench
on its green -
two red leaves

sunlight
through the yellow leaf
my index finger

Deborah Russell
Baltimore, MD USA

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Related words

***** Autumn Leaves (momiji　紅葉　もみじ)
yellow leaves, colored leaves


momiji tenpura もみじ天ぷら/ 紅葉の天ぷら
sweet tempura from maple leaves
from Mino town, Osaka
Tempura von roten Ahornblättern


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Leonid Meteor Shower

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Leonid Meteor Shower

***** Location: Worldwide
***** Season: Winter, November
***** Category: Heavens

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Explanation

Leonid Meteor Shower
The Leonids, which recur each November, had a spectacular run between 1999 and 2002. The meteor showers of those years approached the intensity of "meteor storms," a threshold generally marked when viewers can see a thousand meteors an hour.
This week marks the return of the Leonid meteor shower. The heavenly show is expected to peak on Friday, November 19, at 1:40 a.m. ET for sky-watchers in North America. The spectacle looks to be the second-to-last chance to see the shower in this century.
Read more here in the National Geographic
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/11/1112_041112_leonid_meteor_shower.html






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There are superb pictures of the Leonid storm on the link below.
Observed from Big Bay, Illinois, 2:30am - 4:30am CST November 18, 2001 and
Ayers Rock, Australia November 19-20, 2001



http://www.icstars.com/HTML/Leonids2001/orionbolide.html
http://www.icstars.com/HTML/Leonids2001/


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German Link about the Leonids
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leoniden


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Worldwide use

Japan

. nagareboshi 流れ星 ryuusei 流星 shooting star .
meteor in various seasons

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USA
the meteor showers visible in north america are as follows:

*quadrantids jan 4 40 per hour 2 days
*lyrids apr 21 15 per hour 4 days
*eta aquarids may 4 20 per hour 6 days
*delta aquarids july 28 20 per hour 14days
*perseids aug 12 50 per hour 4 days
*orionids oct 21 25 per hour 4 days
*s. taurids nov 3 15 per hour
*leonids nov 16 15 per hour
*geminids dec 13 50 per hour 5 days
*ursids dec 22 15 per hour 4 days

the meteors appear to originate in the constellations that give the meteor showers their names.

the duration 'centers' on the peak date shown. thus, you will see some showers in the days before and after the peak date. theoretically, the peak date will have the peak number of meteors.

the source of the above is 'the golden skyguide, a field guide for amateur astronomers'.
i also have 'the peterson field guide to the stars and planets' and the collins gem guide 'the night sky'. each has its own value. the night sky would fit in the pocket of anyone it is about 3" x 4.5". Suited to take on a walk.

Susan Delaney

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i will be looking up, watching for the meteors.
a funny story:

it was 5.30 a.m. and comet Hale-Bopp was high and bright in the eastern sky.

i was walking in my neighborhood. a man, already dressed for business, came out to get his paper just as i approached his sidewalk.

'have you seen the comet?', i asked.

'no, but i was in a chat room with Bopp last night, etc, etc.'

'have you seen the comet?', i asked again.

'no, but blah, blah, blah, about the science of it.'

'have you seen the comet?', i asked again.
he was beginning to get that i was trying to tell him something.
he paused and stopped his 'head talk'.

i pointed to the comet.
he looked up, mouth agape.

i walked away silently, leaving him to commune with the comet.

susan delphine delaney md
plano texas


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Things found on the way

Radio Meteor Observatory's On Line
http://radio.data.free.fr/main.php3

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HAIKU

Leonidenstrom -
in der Nachbarwohnung
ein lauter Streit

。。。。。Leonid Storm -
。。。。。in the neighbour’s flat
。。。。。noisy quarreling

Andrea D`Alessandro

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part of a kasen dated this autumn 2004:

Novembermond
gespiegelt im Weiher
wie ein Diamant
(Laura D`Alessandro, daughter of Andrea)

**Teleskopblick
**zum Leonidenstrom
(Andrea D`Alessandro)

Moon of November,
mirrored in the pond
like a diamond
(Laura D`Alessandro)

** Telescope-view
** to the Leonids.
(Andrea D`Alessandro)


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leonids--
the sparkle
in her laugh

Deborah Kolodji
Published : tinywords in 2007/11/19


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ryusei no tsukai-kire-zaru sora no take

Shugyo Takaha (1930-)

a shooting star...
unable to use up the length of
the vast sky

(Tr. Susumu Takiguchi)
Daily Yomiuri, September 2005
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/language/20050906TDY19002.htm


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Leonid Meteor shower
brings us
the thousands of blisses .

- Shared by Chappy Fukuda -
Haiku Culture Magazine, 2013



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Related words

***** Geminid Meteor Shower
kigo for winter (December)

The Geminid meteor shower is ongoing through December 19th. Peak activity occurs during the 13th and 14th. The meteors are composed of debris from asteroid 3200 Phaethon. The Geminids have increased in intensity since first seen in 1862.
This information is from accuweather.com




the Geminid meteor shower:
scratches in the night blanket
day light peeks through

Fred Masarani
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cherrypoetryclub/message/20989



The Geminids peaked last night about midnight, USA EST. My sons saw two bolides (fireballs or bright long trailed meteors). I counted four meteors, total, but only was able to see one bolide.

shooting stars:
Daruma recites sutra
after surta!

Chibi
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Darumasan-Japan/message/625


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***** Perseid Meteor Showers: August 12,
Kigo for Early Autumn

The Game of Lugh.
This is an old Celtic name for the Perseids, the most familiar of all meteor showers, that take place at around this time of year. Associated with the Swift-Tuttle Comet, the Perseids have been well documented since at least 830 CE and take their name from the constellation Perseus where shooting stars appear. We can well imagine ancient Celts looking upon these wonders and associating them with other phenomena of the season between the equinox and solstice, including the heat of the last ofthe Dog Days. They attributed the celestial display of Perseid lights to games being played by Lugh, 'the shining one'.

References:

NASA site featuring information on the Perseids:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/22jul_perseids2005.htm

Wilson's Almanac
http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/book/aug1.html

.. .. .. .. ..

Haiku

12 August is a promising night for shooting stars -- so, I ventured out to the hotel terrace in the dark of midnight in the German forest area of the Eiffel. A breathtaking sky -- in Brussels, one forgets how many stars there are... And, within five minutes, three shooting stars!

midnight sky
star upon star upon star
one falling... two... three...

Isabelle Prondzynski


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a perseid night -
from the flames
the fire spirit

- Shared by Shawn Lee Whitney -
Joys of Japan, 2012


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meteor shower
how many dreams
to fulfill

- Shared by Angelo Ancheta -
Joys of Japan, August16, 2012



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On Saturday at dusk, after the fire tragedy that also destroyed a transformer and left a section of Soweto in darkness for three days, while we stood by watching the Kenya Power and Lighting Company staff fixing the trasformer:


shooting star--
we mistake its bright streak
for power return

Patrick Wafula
Kenya, August 2012



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Related words

Morning star (myoojoo), evening star, venus Japan, worldwide

Star (hoshi), shooting star (流星 nagareboshi), Big Dipper
Japan. Many related KIGO !

Star Festival (Tanabata, Japan) Milky Way (ama no gawa)


. Astronomical Saijiki .
by Shawn Lee Whitney, USA



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Last Day of the Year (oomisoka)

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Last Day of the Year (oomisoka)

***** Location: Japan, worldwide
***** Season: Mid-Winter
***** Category: Season

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Explanation

Misoka 晦日　is the name for any last day of a month, so the oomisoka, the great last day of the last month, 大晦日.
Also called "Great Year" ootoshi 大年.

The season shortly before the change of the year is called "the year coming to an end" toshi no kure　年の暮れ、saimatsu 歳末、toshi no se 年の瀬、saiban　歳晩。
The "Year is leaving" yukutoshi 行く年,
"to send the year off " toshi okuru　年送る、
"to think fondly of the past year" toshi oshimu　年惜しむ

. Seasons ending .


Google December 31, 2011


One of the chores for the end of the year is cleaning the home from top to bottom and then back again, so that no speck of the dust of the passing year is left in the new one：
great cleaning, oosooji
kure no oosooji 暮れの大掃除


To clean off the soot, suszuharai　煤払い
is another cleaning activity going on in temples and shrines. Large poles of bamboo are used to wipe away spider nets and other dirt. On the picture you can see the monks cleaning the head of a Buddha statue at the Temple Manpuku-ji.

http://www.heiankyo.co.jp/topics/cho/image/200012-7.jpgIn the Edo period, it was the custom to pay all your amounting bills until the last day of the year, so you could see the money collectors walking around too. Now, the run to the bank is some kind of equivalent.

On the last evening, later in the night, many temples and shrines are prepared for the first visitors of the New Year and sound the bell 108 times, to wipe away the disturbing thoughts of the old and let in a refreshed mind：

striking the bell, joya no kane 除夜の鐘
on December 31

Look at this bell
http://www.zen-shop.net/Joya-no-kane.html

Here is another one

http://www.ajinomoto.com/traditions/winter_06.html


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observance kigo for mid-winter

roojitsu 臘日 (ろうじつ) last day of the year
..... roosai 臘祭（ろうさい） festival on the last day of the year

The word ROO means つなぎあわせる "to hold together"
It implies reverence to the ancestors and all deities of Japan. It was also a banquet to pray for good harvest in the next year.

It also holds together the last month of the old and the first month of the new year.
The 12th month is sometimes called 臘月 Roogetsu.


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observance kigo for mid-winter

There are quite a few rituals performed on the last day of the year.
Here are some of them.


toshi tori 年取 (としとり)
getting one year older
..... toshi toru 年取る（としとる）

On the last day of the year, people eat a proper meal with a whole fish (with head and tail fin).
Everyone would be one year older on the next day. Individual birthdays were not celebrated in the Edo period.


. Matsuo Basho at Suma no Ura - toshi tori


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toshi mamoru 年守る (としまもる)
to watch over (the passing year)
toshi moru 年守る（としもる)
shusai 守歳（しゅさい）
toshi okuru 年送る（としおくる）

People stay awake on the last night. Some visit a shrine or temple, others go to the seaside, others stay at home and watch television. A Year-End party at home is not so common in Japan.


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toshi no hi 年の火 (としのひ) "fire of the year

In many areas on the last day of the year old sacred straw ropes (shimenawa) are burned outside in the garden, if people forgot to bring them back to the local shrine.
This fire would also purify the whole house and could be used to cook the last meal of the old year.
toshikoshi tondo 年越とんど　bonfire to pass into the new year

. Shimenawa 注連縄 a sacred rope



. yotsugi hota 世継榾 (よつぎほた) "successor firewood"



. toshi no yu 年の湯 としのゆ last bath of the year


. misoka soba 晦日蕎麦 (みそかそば)
buckwheat noodles on the last day of the year


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toshi no yado 年の宿 (としのやど)
lodgings for passing into the New Year
..... toshiyado 年宿（としやど）
toshi no ie 年の家（としのいえ） home for passing into the New Year

Either one's own home or the home of the parents, or whilst travelling.


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Worldwide use

The last evening of the year is called
New Year's Eve.

Germany
This last evening is called Silvester. We have a big party to lead us into the new year. At the change of the clock at midnight, people start a firework in the garden and some towns officially.
Gabi Greve

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Guyana

House cleaning and painting are some of the most conspicuous events at Christmas time each year. It is a tradition.

final touches
the house painting
at year end

Kenneth Daniels, Guyana, December 2009

. SOUTH AMERICAN SAIJIKI 　


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Things found on the way

List of Events in Tamba (Japan), a local saijiki
http://www.city.sasayama.hyogo.jp/event/ev.html
Features a Market for the Last Day
http://www.city.sasayama.hyogo.jp/ev981231.html


Other traditional events and customs, all of which are kigo, mostly for the New Year.

SAPPORO SNOW FESTIVAL
HATSUHINODE First Sun <> New Year Kigo > First Sun, First Sunrise (hatsuhi, hatsuhi no de, Japan)
OSECHI RYORI (JAPAN) New Years Food <> New Year Kigo > New Year Part 2
HATSUMOUDE Fists visit to the temple <> New Year Kigo

KAGAMIMOCHI Offerings of Rice Cakes <> New Year Kigo

Here are more links to see these rice offerings
http://www.fushimi-net.co.jp/shopping/shop1-4.html
http://www.fushimi-net.co.jp/shopping/shop1-3.html

TAKOAGE Flying the New Year Kite <> New Year Kigo
JOYA NO KANE The Temple Bell on the last/first night > see above
TOSHIKOSHI SOBA Eating buckwheat noodles on the last evening
YUKIDARUMA Making a snowman > Snowman (yuki Daruma) Japan (yuki-botoke)
KAKIZOME First calligraphy
http://www.ajinomoto.com/traditions/winter_06.html


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Worldwide use again

Chikago

In Chicago, although the practice is illigal, some people celebratethe new year by shooting firearms into the sky.

new year's eve--
the revelers' gunshots close
a violent year

Ed Schwellenbach
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cherrypoetryclub/message/21203


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joya no kane



"Gong on New Year´s Eve"
Onda Akio (b.1924) 恩田秋夫


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HAIKU

shame, shame!
on the month's last day
a meadow butterfly

.はづかしや三十日が来ても草のてふ
hazukashi ya misoka ga kite mo kusa no choo

by Issa, 1810

Or: "meadow butterflies."
Shinji Ogawa explains that Issa's phrase, "month's last day" (misoka), alludes to bills that need to be paid. He paraphrases the haiku: "Shame, shame! on the month's last day I cannot pay my debt." In Issa's days, most people bought things on credit and paid up at the end of the month or, in some cases, end of the year. Issa replaces the phrase, "I cannot pay my debt" with "a meadow butterfly," which suggests, in Shinji's view, that he is "as penniless as a meadow butterfly."
All this is implied by Issa's Japanese, not stated--making the task of translation especially difficult.
I might make the comparison explicit, as Shinji suggests: shame, shame! on the month's last day I'm as penniless as a meadow butterfly ...but this makes for a less effective haiku, making explicit a thing that Issa leaves to the reader's imagination.



bamboo thicket--
on the year's last day, too
evening rain

Issa, 1805
Tr. David Lanoue

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大晦日卵の殻をつぶし捨つ
oomisoka tamago-no kara-o tsubushi sutsu

New Year's Eve
crushing up an eggshell
i throw it away

Dhugal J. Lindsay
http://www.cyberoz.net/city/dhugal/dhughaiku.html

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New Year's Eve-
sleepy eyes
close before midnight

Kate Steere

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just the two of us
in the year’s final moments …
and Jupiter

Christopher Herold Woodside, CA, USA
http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/haiku/03/selection2002.html

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cleaning, susuharai:

awaiting the new year -
cleaning my house
for the Gods of Good Luck
(Tr. aided by Ed Schwellenbach)

Etsuko Yanagibori

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end of the year -
piles of haiku pages
gathering dust

awaiting midnight -
a ripple of temple bells
bless the New Year

Joachim Seckel, WHCworkshop

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Related words

***** New Year (shin nen　新年)


. NEW YEAR
SAIJIKI and KIYOSE

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