Storm Snow - Ransetsu

A haiku poet of the mid-Edo period. Hattori. Commonly known as Hikobei, his other names were Aratani Jisuke, Sechuan, Kan'yodo, and Genpoudo. He was born in Yushima, Edo. He first served Shinjo Oki no Kami, and then spent the next 30 years serving various feudal lords. In 1675 or 1676 (Enpo 3 or 4), at the age of 22 or 23, he became a disciple of Basho, and gradually began to show his talent. In 1690 (Genroku 3), he gave up his samurai status and became a professional haiku poet, becoming an important figure alongside Kikaku as a central figure in the Edo Basho school. Like Kikaku, he was unable to escape the tastes of a city dweller, and wrote many of the ingenious poems that were popular in the Edo haiku world at the time, and was unable to keep up with the "light" trend that Basho adopted in his later years, but his simple, graceful, and unpretentious style, along with its rich lyricism, exudes a tranquil elegance. In contrast to Kikaku, he was a sincere and gentle character, and always admired the character of his teacher Basho, trying to embody his spirit. In later years, he converted to Obaku Zen, shaved his head, and took the name Fuhaku Genpo Koji, but his second wife, Retsujo, who also converted to Zen, was said to have been of prostitute origins. He compiled and edited "Sono Fukuro" and "Aru Toki Shu", and his haiku collection "Genpo Shu" were among his works. His disciples included outstanding people such as Hyakuri and Rito, and his lineage later came to be known as Setsumon. His grave was located at Komagome Jogenji Temple, but has now been moved to Zoshigaya Honkyoji Temple.

[Minoru Horikiri]

Warmth like a single plum blossom

"Hattori Ransetsu" by Seiichi Sakai (included in "Haiku Lecture 2", 1958, Meiji Shoin)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸中期の俳人。服部(はっとり)氏。通称彦兵衛、別号嵐亭治助、雪中庵、寒寥堂、玄峯堂(げんぽうどう)など。江戸・湯島の生まれ。初め新庄隠岐守(しんじょうおきのかみ)に出仕、以後30年間にわたり転々と諸侯に仕えたが、1675、76年（延宝3、4）、22、3歳のころ芭蕉(ばしょう)に入門、しだいに頭角を現し、90年（元禄3）には武士を廃して職業俳人となり、其角(きかく)と並ぶ江戸蕉門の中心として重きをなすようになった。其角同様、都会人的な好みを脱することができず、当代江戸俳壇流行の奇巧な句も多く、芭蕉晩年の「軽み」の風についてゆくことができなかったが、平明穏雅でけれん味のない質実な作風は、豊かな叙情性とあわせて、閑雅な趣をたたえている。其角とは対照的に、その性格も篤実温和であり、つねに師芭蕉の人格を敬慕し、その精神を体得しようとしている。後年は黄檗(おうばく)禅に帰依して剃髪(ていはつ)し、不白玄峯居士と号したが、同じく禅門に帰した後妻烈女(れつじょ)は遊女の出であったという。編著に『其袋(そのふくろ)』『或時集(あるときしゅう)』、句集に『玄峯集』などがあり、門下には百里(ひゃくり)、吏登(りとう)ら優れた人々が輩出して、その系統はのちに雪門(せつもん)とよばれるようになった。墓所は駒込(こまごめ)常験寺にあったが、いまは雑司ヶ谷本教寺に移されている。

［堀切　實］

　梅一輪一輪ほどの暖かさ

『酒井清一著『服部嵐雪』（『俳句講座2』所収・1958・明治書院）』

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