haikaiTALKS: a saturday gathering! 2nd August 2025

haikaiTALKS: Japanese aesthetics: Fueki-ryūkō – The unchanging and ever-changing| a saturday gathering under the banyan tree

A Disclaimer

Responsibility for the originality of the haikai rests solely with the submitting poet. 

If anyone feels that it is similar to another haikai, they are encouraged to contact the relevant poet directly.

Triveni Haikai India will take action, if any, as recommended by the submitting poet.

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Special Guest Poet: Keiko Izawa

host: Srinivasa Sambangi 2nd August 2025

haikaiTALKS: a saturday gathering under the banyan tree

Your Guest Poet for AUGUST for haikaiTALKS: Keiko Izawa

haikaiTALKS August 2025

Japanese aesthetics: Fueki-ryūkō – The unchanging and ever-changing

Fueki-ryūkō – The unchanging and ever-changing

Fueki-ryūko is one of the concepts advocated by Matsuo Basho, and the term consists of two opposite words: fueki (不易) and ryūkō (流行). 

Fueki refers to what is constant, timeless, and universal – the enduring essence of beauty, nature, and human emotion.  Ryūkō refers to what is transient, fashionable, or changing – the expression, style, or cultural forms that shift with time.

Basho emphasized the importance of respecting tradition while also embracing innovation(atarashimi) – much like the saying, “Explore the old to understand the new.”  He believed that haiku should evolve by incorporating fresh expressions without losing its essence, teaching that great poetry must balance both timeless truth and timely expression.

This week you are requested to write up to two haiku expressing the concept of fueki-ryūkō.

As usual, try to include kigo in the links at the bottom. Your local kigo are also welcome.

Samples:

autumn again

the crossword puzzle

already filled in

~ John  Stevenson

in and out of the surf

the retriever

out-retrieves itself

~ Scot Mason

first frost –

my voice enters

the automated system

~ Jim Kacian

snow falling –

the interstate sign

flashes amber

~ Lee Gurga

“A Dictionary of Haiku Classified by Season Words with Traditional and Modern Methods,” by Jane Reichhold:

https://thehaikufoundation.org/omeka/files/original/7fb6654a1dfd1afef97369da920530f8.pdf

Indian subcontinent SAIJIKI:

https://www.trivenihaikai.in/indian-saijiki

The Five Hundred Essential Japanese Season Words:

http://www.2hweb.net/haikai/renku/500ESWd.html

The World Kigo Database:

https://wkdkigodatabase03.blogspot.com/

The Yuki Teikei Haiku Season Word List:

https://yths.org/season-word-list/

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Thanks, Keiko! Another beautiful post. Thanks a lot.

I hope our poets take the challenge and create a haiku on these lines! Keenly looking ahead to this month.

Greatly indebted to you.

Dear Members,

Please give your feedback on others' commentary and poems, too. _()_

We are continuing haikaiTALKS in a grand manner!

Keep writing and commenting! _kala