石の香や、夏草赤く、露暑し
Ishi no ka ya / Natsu kusa akaku / Tsuyu atsushi
In the fumes from this stone / The summer grasses have turned red / And the dew drops hot.
“Sesshoseki”.
That’s the title of this beautiful haiku, which translates to “The Killing Stone” in English.
The haiku was crafted by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), one of the most renowned haiku poets of the Edo period, during his visit to Nasu City to see the stone.
My first encounter with this haiku was while watching a detective-themed live-action drama called "Q.E.D.", which was an adaption of its manga. The drama was released in 2009.
I haven't read the manga myself, but I still have a copy of the live-action drama stored on my computer.
Being a huge fan of mystery novels, manga, anime, and movies, I'm always captivated by the clever tricks and logical deductions that unfold with the slightest of clues.
The legend of Sesshoseki
According to local legend, the killing stone “Sesshoseki” was said to be the result of an evil nine-tailed fox turning into stone.
The fox had once taken the form of a beautiful woman named Tamamo-no-Mae to deceive the emperor, but was eventually discovered by an onmyoji, a yin-yang master.
After being defeated, the fox fled from Kyoto to a distant place called Nasu-Yumoto, where it transformed into a large stone.
With a deep grudge, the stone continued to emit a poisonous aura, causing harm to any living creature that approached too close.
In the live-action drama “Q.E.D.”, the legend of "Sesshoseki" took center stage as the main theme in the second murder case “The Silver Eyes” - a case driven by a mother's love and her desire to protect her only daughter before her final departure due to a health condition, as her sole wish was for her daughter's happiness.
A fatherly love?
The memories of that final scene in the episode "The Silver Eyes" of the live-action drama "Q.E.D." came flooding back when I reminisced about the Thai short film “Pineapple” last time.
The short film's final scene also depicted a similar expression of parental love, where the mother wished for her daughter to be self-reliant when she wasn't around.
Now back to “Sesshoseki”. In the final scene of the episode “The Silver Eyes”, Basho's haiku “Sesshoseki” was briefly recited and linked to father's love.
To be honest, I'm not sure if I know how to relate the haiku to father's love. But it does seem to depict the atmosphere surrounding the killing stone in relation to the local legend.
The haiku describes the transformation of the summer grass, losing its vibrant green color and turning red. It also mentions the unusual warmth of the dew, which is typically expected to be cool.
The locals attribute this phenomenon to the spirit of Tamamo-no-Mae, the evil nine-tailed fox, who is said to be the one that emanates a toxic aura around the stone.
However, one good thing about haiku is that it's open to interpretation. There aren't any strict rules that demand a direct link to specific local legends.
Maybe it's a good idea to take a break from Tamamo-no-Mae legend for a while and see if any other interpretations come to mind.
Unexpected relation
With the association with the legend removed, the haiku now feels different.
Ishi no ka ya / Natsu kusa akaku / Tsuyu atsushi
The fragrance of the stone / Turns the summer grasses red / Warming up the dew
The mention of “fragrance of the stone” and “summer grasses red” vividly paints a picture of nature during the summertime.
These descriptions evoke a sense of warmth, transformation, and vitality. When combined, they create a feeling that is both masculine and associated with the protective and nurturing qualities often attributed to fatherhood.
Breaking down the haiku line by line to explore how it can represent fatherly love, I can envision these imageries in my mind and the associations they evoke:
石の香や (Ishi no ka ya) - The fragrance of the stone: It represents the smell of man and purity, symbolizing the father himself and the enduring nature of his love. Similar to how a stone remains steadfast and unchanged over time, a father's presence makes us feel safe and protected with his love that is unchanging, unwavering, and unyielding.
夏草赤く (Natsu kusa akaku) - Turns the summer grasses red: The image of summer grasses turning red evokes a sense of the passage of time. This line may symbolize a father's desire for his child to flourish and thrive, to develop their own strengths and passions as they navigate through life. It reflects the father's understanding that his presence in his child's life is not everlasting.
露暑し (Tsuyu atsushi) - Warming up the dew: This phrase combines the contrasting elements of dew and heat. Akin to dewdrops or sweat turning warm after enduring the heat, it symbolizes a father’s dedication and hard work to provide a good life, safety, and comfort for his child, even if it requires personal sacrifices. It can also reflect the father’s calm demeanor that can transform into fiery fierceness when it comes to ensuring his child’s safety and well-being.
Interpreting the haiku in this way, it suddenly feels like the elements used perfectly capture the essence of a father's profound and selfless love for his child.
The haiku, which previously had a darker tone due to its association with the legend of the killing stone "Sesshoseki", now beautifully portrays a father’s deep desire to create a solid foundation, nurture growth, and protect his child from life's challenges, encouraging their strength and independence to blossom.
I know this may not be the best way to link the haiku to fatherly love, but that’s okay. The beauty of poetry lies in its ability to evoke different emotions and meanings for different individuals, after all.