Natsume Soseki, Natsume Soseki poetry, Buddhist, Buddhist poetry, Zen / Chan poetry, poetry, poetry Natsume Soseki
Japan (1867 - 1916) Timeline
Buddhist : Zen / Chan


Poems by Natsume Soseki
Books - Links

Natsume Soseki is probably best known as a novelist, sometimes referred to as the Charles Dickens of Japan. He wrote stories with both humanity and an unflinching eye. But he was also a teacher, a cultural critic, a Zen practitioner, and an author of haiku.

Soseki was born in Tokyo and graduated from Tokyo University. He then became a middle school and high school teacher of English language and literature.

In the early 1900's several of his stories were published in serialized form in magazines, establishing his career as a writer.

Around this time, Soseki also started showing signs of tuberculosis, an illness he never fully shook off. This illness and other stresses contributed to a state of depression. To cope with his depression, Soseki began to practice Zen meditation. You can perceive the reflection of his deep practice within his poetry.

Natsume Soseki died at the age of 49.

Poems by Natsume Soseki







Related Links

Natsume Soseki
http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/ns/soseki.html
The complete text of Soseki's novel Kokoro. Many links.

Natsume Soseki - GreenNet
http://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/english/bunjin/natsume_e.htm
A good brief biography online.
Natsume Soseki