Explanation of Renga

Note: No members of Writers Under the Arch are Renga Masters, and the information on this form we have gathered from various websites. Our attempts at Renga are in the form of entertainment, and we do not place every possible restriction on the form, choosing which ones we want to follow when. While 36 and 100 verse Renga are common lengths traditionally, we have often allowed the amount of time available to dictate the length.

renga (RAY'N-GAH) - linked elegance- The Japanese poetry form in which three-line stanzas of 5-7-5 are linked to a two- line 7-7 , usually written by two or more persons.

The idea behind the Renga is that one poet writes a section on their own ideas and the next poet adds the next section. Two poets combining their own ideas forming one poem, soon became a popular pastime and a form of entertainment. Many people thought of Renga as playing a competitive game. In order to participate in this game-like fashion, being a fast thinker with a good sense of humor was a requirement. People had parties where they used this form of entertainment. Renga poems are known to be longer than other types of Japanese poetry and they can reach up to 100 verses. Renga poetry is a fun form of entertainment that anyone can enjoy.

rengaawase (RAY'N-GAH-AH-WAH-SAY) A renga contest.

ageku (AH-GAY-COO) -completing verse- A last stanza of a renga that attempts to summarize the whole work with a reference to the beginning stanza.

daisan (DAY'EE-SAH-N)-the third- In renga, the third stanza which ends, in English, with a verb - often a gerund [ending in -ing].

gojuin (GO-JEW-EEN) A 50-link renga.

haikai-no-renga (HI-K'EYE-NO-RAY'N-GAH) - comic renga- In Basho's time it meant vulgar, earthy renga, full of satire and puns, which was the dominant mode at that time. When Basho spoke of his work, this is what he called it.

iisute (EE-SUE-TAY) A renga which has ended in the middle because your partner has left town and no forwarding address.

ryogin (RE-YOE-JEAN) A renga written by two authors.

sangin (SAH'N-JEAN) A renga written by three authors.

yongin (YOE-JEAN) A four-partner renga.

oriku (OH-REE-COO) Acrostic renga.

a 36-stanza renga has been compared to a social evening. The jo (the first six stanzas) is like the first half hour when everyone is politely getting acquainted, still talking of the situation that has brought them together -- the weather, the host's house, furnishings, the food, how lovely everyone looks. The ha or 24-link body is the conversation over dinner when the wine has soaked in. The kyu (also six stanzas) are those disconnected phrases one hears while saying good-bye, thanks, and don't forget and remember when.