Maung Thano - Haiku Poems, Traveler's Bastion

The beginning of the journey

On the twenty-seventh of the third month, I set out early in the morning. The sky was still dark. Although it was slowly fading, I could still see the moon. The faint shadow of Mount Fuji and the cherry blossoms of Ueno and Yanaka were bidding me farewell. My friends had arrived early in the morning, and they had all boarded the boat to accompany me for the first few miles. As we disembarked at Sinju, the thought of the three thousand miles ahead of me suddenly filled my mind. My tear-stained eyes could only see the houses of the city and the faces of my friends as if they were dreams.

At the end of spring,

The birds cry, even the fish

Share tears.

I set out on my journey, marking the beginning of my journey with this poem. But my wandering thoughts made my steps heavy. My friends stood in line, waving goodbye as long as they could see my back.

Soca

I walked all day. I was eager to return after seeing the strange sights of the far north, but I could not believe the possibility. I had set out on such a long journey in 1689, the second year of the reign of Genro, knowing that when I reached the coldest regions, I would only have to wear snow-white hair on my head. When I arrived at Soka village in the evening, my shoulders ached from the burden I had carried. In the baggage were a paper shirt to keep me warm at night, a light cotton jacket to wear after bathing, a raincoat, writing instruments, and gifts from some friends. I wanted to travel lightly. However, I could not throw away some items because they were practical and I did not want to throw them away.

We visited the Muro-no-yashima Shrine. My travel guide said that this shrine was the shrine of the goddess of the flowering plant (Ko nohana saya hime). She also had her shrine at the foot of Mount Fuji. The goddess had a child with her husband, who became suspicious and went into the small hut and burned it. If the child was born without harm, it was believed that he was innocent. Therefore, the son she gave birth to was called the Flame-Birthing Lord (Hoho demi-no-miko to), and the goddess' shrine was called Muro-no-yashima (Flame Shrine). The poets of the region often composed songs about the flame, and the common people did not eat a kind of spotted fish called konashiro. When the fish caught fire, it was said that it gave off a smell like human burning.

Hotawke Goza Aeman

On the night of the thirteenth of the third month (May 19), they stayed at a restaurant at the foot of Mount Nikko. The owner of the restaurant said that his name was Gozai Eman, that he put honesty first in everything, and that he could sleep on his grass pillow with complete confidence. I looked at him carefully. He seemed stubborn and honest. He seemed to lack any worldly wisdom. I wondered if the Buddha himself, the compassionate one, had come to the world to take care of the two travelers, disguised as monks and beggars. He was a man who could come close to Confucius's Goki Boku Tosu (high morals and utmost honesty). Such a person is to be respected.

Nico

On the first day of the fourth month (May 20), they went up to Mount Nikko and made a pilgrimage.

In the past, the name of this mountain was written as “Niko” by taking the Chinese characters “Yi” and “Rai”. When Sayadaw Kukai built the pagoda here, he changed the two characters meaning “sun” and “light” and changed it to “Niko”. It seems that Sayadaw could foresee a thousand years into the future. Now, the sacred light of the Tokugawa religion shines throughout the sky, and the rays of love cover the entire country, so the whole people are peaceful and happy. I am so filled with devotion that I even hesitate to write a poem.

The pagoda is beautiful,

          Green leaves, new leaves

The sun is shining brightly.

Kurokami, which means "crow's nest" mountain, can be seen in the distance amidst the white snow. It is white because of the rain and snow.

U Pyi, I am a bald head.

I even climbed the crow's nest.

New clothes day.

Sora

"Sora" is his pen name. His family name is Kawai.

He lived near the banana tree hut and often helped me with household chores such as collecting firewood and carrying water. Sora was eager to see the scenery of Matsushima and Kisakata, so he accompanied me, hoping to have my company and share the joys and sorrows of the journey. On the morning of our journey, he shaved his head, donned the black robes of a monk, and took the name “Sogho,” which means “enlightenment.” He refers to this in his poem written on Mount Kurakami. The words “changed new clothes” are very apt. They refer to the traditional day of changing clothes in spring, and to Sora himself “changing new clothes” when he became a monk before setting out.

About a mile up the mountain is a waterfall. The water seems to leap from the top of the cave and plunge about a hundred yards into a green pool surrounded by thousands of rocks. It is as if you are looking at the waterfall from behind, as it curves into the cave. Hence the name “Rear View” Waterfall (Urami-na-taki).

Hidden in the waterfall

Summer solstice meditation

They started.

I have an acquaintance who lives in a place called Kuroba in Nasu Province. So we decided to cross the vast Nasu grassland. We followed the path towards a village that we could see in the distance. But before we reached the village, it started to rain and night fell. After spending the night in a farmer's house, we started our journey through the grassland again the next morning.

They saw a horse eating grass. A man was mowing nearby, so they asked for directions. Although he was a wild animal, he was not lacking in compassion.

"Oh," he said, sounding worried.

"The roads in this forest are confusing. A stranger can easily get lost. I'll take the horse, and if he doesn't go any further, let him go."

I borrowed his horse. As I rode out, two children came running after me. One was a girl, and I told them that her name was a case study. It means “undifferentiated.” It was a beautiful name, as unique as it was.

Just a flower

Pink wild flower

The petals will be various.

Sora

Soon they came to a small village with a few houses. So they tied a small amount of money to their saddles and