The Enigmatic Beauty of the Samurai’s Poem as Farewell to This World

Japan, a country renowned for its ancient traditions and captivating tales, has gifted the world with a unique form of poetry known as “Jisei no ku.” It can be translated to “death poem” or “farewell poem.” These poems were, as the name indicates, composed by people who were on the verge of their death. Rooted deeply in the history and culture of Japan, these poems aren’t just mere verses; they are profound reflections of a lifetime, a culmination of thoughts, beliefs, and experiences.

The Essence of the Death Poem

Jisei no ku stands as a testament to the Japanese spirit’s resolution and determination in facing mortality. Traditionally written in the moments before death, these verses capture the essence of the writer’s thoughts and feelings about life, the impermanence of existence, and the inevitable journey to the afterlife. These are not a will the contemporary people leave before they die. It is a philosophy and culmination of the life of the people.

Samurai, known for their undying spirit, courage, and adherence to the code of Bushido, were particularly inclined to pen these poems. Their Jisei no ku often convey a deep sense of honor, regret, acceptance, or even joy at the thought of an honorable death. Jisei no ku are often read as the embodiment of their philosophies.

Therefore, if you are a fan of some samurai or tycoons in Japan, reading their Jisei no ku will inspire you to understand the philosophies or values they cherished. Sometimes, the death poem can tell you what answer about the life they discovered at the moment of their death.

Now, let’s delve into the world of Jisei no ku. Below are the death poems composed by famous samurai and tycoons in Japanese history.

Hideyoshi Toyotomi: The Unifier of Japan

One of the most significant figures who left an indelible mark on Japanese history was Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Born a peasant in the mid-16th century, he rose through the societal ranks, defying the odds and showcasing unparalleled ambition, strategy, and leadership. His life story is nothing short of incredible. From his humble beginnings to his eventual unification of Japan, Hideyoshi’s tale is one of determination, intelligence, and a relentless pursuit of power.

Beyond his military and political prowess, Hideyoshi also indulged in the arts, embracing the cultural heritage of Japan. His passion wasn’t just limited to castle building or tea ceremonies; he, too, penned a death poem, reflecting his life’s journey and the transient nature of existence.

Here is the Jisei no ku of Hideyoshi Toyotomi:

My life is like a dewdrop

It disappears like a dew

Everything in Naniwa

is a dream after a dream

Naniwa, now known as Osaka, was where Hideyoshi built one of his most formidable castles, symbolizing his power and ambition. His death poem not only reflects the evanescence of life (likened to the fleeting dew) but also encapsulates the temporariness of even the grandest achievements, like his magnificent castle, hinting that life’s glory and accomplishments are ephemeral like dreams within dreams.

Ieyasu Tokugawa: The Architect of the Edo Era

Among the luminaries that shaped the trajectory of Japan’s history, Ieyasu Tokugawa stands out as a beacon of strategy, governance, and legacy. Born in a time of constant warfare and political upheaval, Ieyasu’s strategic acumen and diplomacy not only helped him rise to power but also lay the foundation for the Tokugawa shogunate, which would see Japan experience over two centuries of peace and cultural flourishing during the Edo period.

Despite being embroiled in power struggles and battles throughout his life, Ieyasu’s political vision was clear: a unified Japan under stable rule. His legacy is not merely confined to his establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, but also in the intricate system of governance he put in place, ensuring a lasting peace that had previously seemed unattainable.

Like many of his contemporaries and successors, Ieyasu was not only a master tactician but also a man who understood the depths of human existence. This duality of his character—being both a ruler and a philosopher at heart—is evident in his death poem:

It makes no difference

that I go and you are left

Farewell just for now

I can’t take you with me

It makes no difference that I go and you are left. This means that all the people will go to the otherworld and there we can meet each other again. Therefore, he says, his death is not something eternal, and the farewell is only temporary. In the past, some samurai chose to commit harakiri (stabbing a katana in their abdomen to kill themselves) when their masters were dead to show their respect, which harakiri was especially called “Oihara” (meaning following harakiri). Ieyasu knew that not a few of his people would follow his death, and he told them not to—because they could meet one another again in the end, or after the end.

Masamune Date: The One-Eyed Dragon of Ōshu

Masamune Date stands as one of the most iconic figures in the rich tapestry of Japanese history. Dubbed the “One-Eyed Dragon of Ōshu” due to his distinctive appearance after losing an eye to smallpox, Masamune was a daimyō who dominated the Tōhoku region in the late Sengoku and early Edo periods. Famed for his ambition and cunning, Masamune played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of his time.

Beyond his military exploits and keen political insight, Masamune was a patron of the arts and a cultured leader, fostering cultural exchanges and embracing the integration of foreign influence. His leadership style and worldview were marked by a mix of relentless pursuit of power and a deep appreciation for cultural richness.

A man of action and contemplation, Masamune Date also left the world his death poem, a reflection of his life, aspirations, and the transient nature of worldly achievements:

Guided by the clear moon in my mind

Light up the darkness of this world

As you know, his life was full of adventure and the pursuit of something he desired. This death poem tells us his philosophy and code of conduct. He followed his own mind and the inner voice of his heart when making a decision or taking an action. He always had a moon in his mind, which never got clouded, and the moonlight navigated him to where he should go even in the era of great uncertainty.

By the way, why did he say “Moon” instead of “Sun” in the poem? Of course, it must be because of the icon of his figure—the crescent moon on his kabuto. If that’s true, the “darkness” he mentioned may have been related to the fact that he lost one of his eyes.

Mitsuhide Akechi: The Enigma of the Sengoku Period

The narratives of Japanese history are laden with tales of valor, strategy, betrayal, and introspection, and few characters embody this tapestry as vividly as Mitsuhide Akechi. A prominent figure during the Sengoku period, Mitsuhide is best known for his betrayal of Nobunaga Oda, a pivotal event that opened up a myriad of possibilities and uncertainties in the turbulent landscape of the time.

Mitsuhide’s life is shrouded in enigma and dichotomy. A man of intellect, poetry, and military prowess, he was both a loyal retainer and the orchestrator of one of the most dramatic coups in Japanese history. Despite his swift rise and fall, Mitsuhide’s actions and contemplations left a profound impact on the subsequent events and reflections on loyalty, ambition, and the human condition.

So, let’s read his death poem.

Order and disorder are the same

Both eventually lead to the source of the mind

The 55-year dream of my life

Will end up reaching the origin

While this enigmatic composition is yet to be fully understood and the translation above is also merely a construe of the original one, some people think that this refers to the Honnoji Incident, where Mitsuhide Akechi killed Nobunaga Oda. It’s natural that some people thought the incident was nothing but rebellion, and Mitsuhide must have known his mixed reputation. So, he left this death poem to say that his deed was nothing completely right or wrong—both are the same because both come from the minds of the people. Upon the conclusion of our lives, we shall return to the place from which we originated. Therefore, everything is not different. Nobody can definitively judge whether his conduct at Honnoji was a necessary innovation or simply wrongdoing.

Concluding Reflections

In the echoes of the samurai’s final verses, we find an invitation—to look within, to contemplate the eternal, and to embrace the fleeting beauty of this present moment. Whether we are drawn to the tales of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Ieyasu Tokugawa, Masamune Date, Mitsuhide Akechi, or many others, we are embarking on a journey through the pages of history, enriched with philosophical gems and cultural revelations.

By absorbing the reflections woven into the death poems of the samurai, we are not just spectators of their lives; we become participants in a dialogue that transcends time, a dialogue about existence, morality, impermanence, and the relentless pursuit of understanding. The death poems of the samurai are a testament to the multifaceted brilliance of the human spirit, beckoning us to explore, reflect, and transcend time and history.