Unity with Nature: All beings are interconnected.

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Here’s a collection of 10 poems by Ryōkan (良寛) (1758–1831), a Japanese Zen monk and poet celebrated for his minimalist, nature-inspired verse. The poems are presented in their original Japanese (with Romaji transliteration), followed by an English translation and commentary. A brief biography of Ryōkan is included below.

Biography of Ryōkan
Ryōkan was a lay Zen monk who lived a reclusive life in mountain huts near modern-day Ise Province, Japan. He abandoned worldly ambitions at age 25 to pursue enlightenment, practicing Zen and writing poetry in a style deeply rooted in Zen principles. His works emphasize simplicity, impermanence, and the interconnectedness of all things. Ryōkan’s poetry blends the austerity of Zen with the lyricism of nature, often reflecting his devotion to mindfulness and detachment from desire.

Poems of Ryōkan

1. 「月夜」 (Tsuki-yo / Moonlit Night)
   Original:
   月夜や　竹の葉散りぬる
   露も消えて　秋の空
   (Hadaka no yoru ya / Take no ha chiritsuru / Tsuyu mo kiete / Aki no sora)

Translation:
Moonlit night—
Bamboo leaves scatter,
Dew vanishes—
Autumn sky.

Commentary:
This poem captures the fleeting beauty of autumn. The moonlight illuminates the transient nature of bamboo leaves and dew, evoking the Zen idea of impermanence (anicca). Ryōkan invites us to observe stillness in motion.

2. 「雪月花」 (Setsugetsuka / Snow, Moon, Flowers)
   Original:
   雪月花　三つの友達
   一緒に遊ぶことができれば
   (Setsugetsuka / Sankatsu no tomodachi / Issho ni asobu koto ga dekereba)

Translation:
Snow, moon, flowers—
Three friends—
If we can play together,

Commentary:
Nature itself becomes Ryōkan’s companions. The poem reflects Zen’s harmony with the universe, suggesting that true friendship lies in merging with the rhythms of the cosmos.

3. 「病中の心」 (Byōchū no kokoro / Sickbed Thoughts)
   Original:
   病むれば　世の中厳しい
   心さえ軽くなる
   (Byō nareba / Seiya no jō o atsui / Kokoro sae karuku naru)

Translation:
When sick, the world seems harsh—
Yet my heart grows light.

Commentary:
Ryōkan contrasts physical suffering with spiritual liberation. Illness strips away illusions, revealing the peace of letting go (a core Zen teaching).

4. 「山居の春」 (Sanka no haru / Spring in the Mountains)
   Original:
   山の家に　春来たりけり
   鳥の声や　しづかに
   (Sanka no ie ni / Haru kitareru kere / Tori no koe ya / Shizukani)

Translation:
Spring has come to my mountain home—
Birdsong, quiet and clear.

Commentary:
A simple scene of spring in solitude. Ryōkan finds joy in the subtle sounds of nature, embodying Zen’s focus on present-moment awareness.

5. 「一茶碗」 (Ichichawan / One Tea Bowl)
   Original:
   一茶碗を　捧げてみよ
   この中に　世界あり
   (Ichi chawan o / Muge te miyo / Kono naka ni / Sekai ari)

Translation:
Hold up one tea bowl—
Within it lies the world.

Commentary:
A classic Zen koan-like reflection. Ryōkan teaches that the entire universe is contained in a single moment or object, encouraging mindfulness and gratitude.

6. 「夜半の鐘」 (Yowa no shō / Midnight Bell)
   Original:
   夜半の鐘　空に響く
   迷う人々を　導くかもしれない
   (Yowa no shō / Sora ni hibiku / Mayou hitobito o / Michibiku kamo shirenai)

Translation:
The midnight bell resounds in emptiness—
Perhaps it guides the lost.

Commentary:
The bell symbolizes awakening. Ryōkan suggests that even in darkness, spiritual clarity can guide us.

7. 「老いて」 (Oite / Growing Old)
   Original:
   老いても　心は若しい
   ただ　身のみ朽ちてゆく
   (Oite mo / Kokoro wa wakashi i / Tada / Mi no mi kiete yuku)

Translation:
Even as I age, my heart remains young—
Only my body decays.

Commentary:
This poem contrasts the aging body with the eternal spirit, reflecting Ryōkan’s belief in transcending physicality through Zen practice.

8. 「風」 (Kaze / Wind)
   Original:
   風の音や　松の間を
   通り抜けて行く
   (Kaze no ne ya / Matsu no ma o / Tōrishite iku)

Translation:
The sound of wind—
Passing through the pines,

Commentary:
The wind’s song symbolizes the impermanent yet continuous flow of life. Ryōkan listens without attachment, embodying zazen (meditation) in action.

9. 「仏前に打つ手拍子」 (Butsu sen ni utsu shibaseki / Clapping Hands Before the Buddha)
   Original:
   仏前に打つ手拍子
   何もないのに　嬉しいのだろう
   (Butsu sen ni utsu shibaseki / Nani mo na no ni / Tanoshii no darou)

Translation:
Clapping hands before the Buddha—
Why am I joyful for nothing?

Commentary:
A humorous paradox. Ryōkan mocks ritualism, suggesting true joy arises from emptiness and gratitude, not external actions.

10. 「別れ」 (Wakare / Farewell)
    Original:
    別れても　心は一つ
    雲のように　散らばらず
    (Wakare te mo / Kokoro wa hitotsu / Kumo no yō ni / Sabarabara zu)

Translation:
Though we part, our hearts remain one—
Like clouds that do not scatter.

Commentary:
Emphasizing unity beyond separation, Ryōkan uses clouds—a symbol of impermanence—to express boundless connection.

Key Themes in Ryōkan’s Poetry

• Impermanence (anicca): Nature’s cycles remind us of life’s transience.
• Mindfulness: Finding peace in everyday moments.
• Zen Simplicity: Rejecting greed and embracing humility.
• Unity with Nature: All beings are interconnected.

Ryōkan’s poems remain timeless, offering insights into the Zen way of life. For deeper study, explore his collected works, such as 《竹叢抄》 (Take Shūshū), compiled posthumously.