Who is Masaoka Shiki

Masaoka Shiki (正岡 子規, October 14, 1867 – September 19, 1902), pen-name of Masaoka Noboru (正岡 升), was a Japanese poet, author, and literary critic in Meiji period Japan. Shiki is regarded as a major figure in the development of modern haiku poetry, credited with writing nearly 20,000 stanzas during his short life. He also wrote on reform of tanka poetry.Some consider Shiki to be one of the four great haiku masters, the others being Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, and Kobayashi Issa.

Early life

Shiki, or rather Tsunenori (常規) as he was originally named, was born in Matsuyama City in Iyo Province (present day Ehime Prefecture) to a samurai class family of modest means. As a child, he was called Tokoronosuke (處之助); in adolescence, his name was chan...
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Masaoka Shiki Poems

• At The Full Moon's
  at the full moon's
  rising, the silver-plumed
  reeds tremble
  ...
• Cockscombs
  cockscombsâ?¦
  must be 14,
  or 15
  ...
• It Is Cold
  It is cold, but
  we have sake
  and the hot spring
  ...
• All I Can Think Of
  all I can think of
  is being sick in bed
  and snowboundâ?¦
  ...
• Clouds're Running Past
  clouds're running past
  running after clouds
  the Storm Day
  ...

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Masaoka Shiki Quotes

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