"Wagahai wa Neko dearu:I am a cat" - Shiki, Soseki, Kyoshi
On Jan. of 1905 (Meiji 38), Soseki's first novel "I am a cat" came out in the beginning of "Hototogisu".The novelist Soseki had seen the light of day ! This began with the fact that Kyoshi suggested writing some compositions for a pastime to Soseki who had fallen into the nervous breakdown of his chronic disease in 1904 (Meiji 37).
"I am a cat" written as a sketching type of novel, was to be published only once, but it had a good reputation and had been serialized to number eleven.
Soseki said in the beginning of the middle part of "I am a cat";
" (...) I don't know how will Shiki say to read "I am a cat". I am afraid that he would rather be excused from reading "I am a cat" even if he want to read "London Shousoku : The information in London".
But "I am a cat"is the first work that made a name for myself. It's nothing to be proud of that I became well known, it's most suitable for the departed, Shiki who had encouraged me implicitly in his essay, "Bokujyu Itteki : One drop of India ink", that I place this novel on Shiki's grave."
One feel a fate or something in the fact that Shiki selected "a cat"as the subject matter for his first Haiku.
"Snow is just falling now
White cat on the ridge of roof
Is apprehensive about a roar" (as of 1885)
(Shiki)
The companion between Shiki and Souseki started with going vaudeville theater on January of 1889 (Meiji 22). Both of them entered the preliminary school of Tokyo University (The predecessor of the first High School) on September of 1884 (Meiji 17), and Shiki saw Soseki as the one of classmates who were good at English.
Shiki contributed the following article to Shiki's account of journey in Bosou (The southern district of Chiba Prefecture), "Bokusetsu-roku : The record of Rubbish" ;
"It had been for a long time since I came to know you. But the companion of you and I just started on January of this year."
And the other hand, Souseki said ;
"When two of us talked about storyteller's theater, I found Shiki acknowledged himself to be well informed on storyteller's theater. He would think I was worth talking about storyteller's theater, because I also knew it very well. He got acquainted with me much more since that time."
( referred to "Hototogisu" in September of 1908 (Meiji 41) )
On May 9th of 1889 (Meiji 22) when Shiki fell into company with Souseki, he gave his pen name as "Shiki" because of his unexpected hemoptysis. It was not so long before Souseki commented on the Chinese poetry "Nanakusa-shu : The collected poem of the seven herbs" by Shiki on May 25th. At that time, Souseki used his pen name of "Souseki" at first. Souseki said in his letter (addressed to Shiki dated May 27th of 1889 (Meiji 22), about the reason of using "Souseki" ;
"I did admit triumphantly that I had made use of "Souseki" as a temporary pen name for fear that my real name will be put on the "Nanakusa-shu" even myself.
And he said about another reason ;
"I lost no time in selecting my pen name after I read "Mougyu" and learn fables and phrases. When I think it now, this pen name was will be hackneyed and vulgar name." (referred to "Chugaku Sekai : The world of Junior High School" ,1908 (Meiji 41) )
[Notes]
"Mougyu": The similar Chinese book edited by "Rikan" of Tang dynasty. This is the four characters rhythmic phrase composed of every two characters of likeness between biography, speech and actions of ancient people, ancient times to Nanboku-cho era, and changed rhyme every eight phrases. (referred to Japanese language dictionary published by Shougakkan)
"Souseki Chinryu": To wash out one's mouth by stone, pillow one's head on the flow. A fable or proverb that one will not admit one's defeat and put forward far-fetched argument for ones failure, and talk oneself out of the difficulty. (referred to Japanese language dictionary published by Shougakkan)
After all, the highlight of the friendship between Shiki and Soseki will be living together of fifty days and more in Gudabutsuan Hermitage in 1895 (Meiji 28). It was out of the affection for Shiki that Soseki found the work in Matsuyama Junior High School on April of 1895 (Meiji 28).
Late in August of that year, Soseki made Shiki welcome kindly, who came home for recuperation. Soseki moved to the upstairs and vacated the first floor to Shiki as "the temporary study."
Twenty-nine-old journalist and middle school teacher discussed literature, and talked about life and promoted their friendship while they were enlightened each other, at every morning and evening. Meanwhile, Souseki was absorbed in Haiku with the members of "Shofu-kai", and composed a great number of Haiku later.
"A wood block spews out mosquitoes
That have been confined during the daytimes
by being beaten with stick" (as of 1895)
"I feel just like that
I would be born a modest person
Just as a violet is" (as of 1897)
(Soseki)
The Ikeuchi House, the birthplace of Kyoshi, was the next-door house on the south of Shiki's grown up house, but moved to Nishino-shita of Houjou City after Kyoshi's birth in 1875 (Meiji 8).
In 1881 (Meiji 14), Kyoshi returned Matsuyama and lived in Enoki-cho and in the following year, settled at house number 84 of Tamagawa-cho (present Ichiban-cho) where Kyoshi grew up.
Kyoshi's room was on the second floor. Kyoshi's niece, Tsurujo Imai was born at this house and her room had been in this Kyoshi's room.
In summer of 1891 (Meiji 24), Shiki was used to visit here and hold Haiku meeting on the introduction of Hekigoto.
When Kyoshi was nineteen years old, he was given the theme of Haiku, "the closest to the moon", and composed the following Haiku.
"I can see lunar craters
of today's brilliant moon before my eyes
Like pores in the face"
(Kyoshi)
It was said that Shiki, Hifu and Hekikotou sharing the place, opened their eyes wide.
The name of "Kyoshi" (his real name was Kiyoshi) was named by Shiki in 1891 (Meiji 24).
At that time, this Kyoshi's house was located the eastern edge of Tamagawa-cho and when the moon rose over the eastern mountains, it could come into view of the scene that the plains and groves with a few scattered trees widespread and grew light as it were in the daytime.
The excellent Haiku, "We can get a distant / View of the mountain catch sun and / The desolate field spread out" was originated being based on the view from this place.
In 1892 (Meiji 25), Soseki, in his school days, visited Shiki's house in Matsuyama when Shiki had returned home. Kyoshi and Souseki first made each other's acquaintance in this time when Kyoshi had visited Shiki's house.
Kyoshi said about the impression he received at that time ;
"A person in school uniform was sitting square gentlemanly on his seat. (...) I remembered Matsuyama sushi (fish on vinegared rice) or something were prepared for dinner and poem papers written down Haiku were scattered on the seat."
In 1896 (Meiji 29), while Kyoshi returned home for his eldest brother's disease, he made acquaintance with Soseki, who was a teacher of Matsuyama Junior High School. Souseki often called out Kyoshi upstairs out of doors and enjoyed themselves in Dogo Spa at times.
In 1896 (Meiji 29), when Soseki left for Kumamoto for his new post, parting from Matsuyama, Kyoshi got on board a ship for Itsukushima in Hiroshima with Souseki on the suggestion of him.
On Dec. 9th of 1895 (Meiji 29), Shiki asked Kyoshi to go Mt.Dokan and called on him to be successor of Shiki. Kyoshi didn't accept Shiki's offer, but Shiki said about the expectations to Kyoshi comparing to the parental affection for children ;
"When I thought back to those days, Kyoshi often intended to leave me, but I never be able to desert Kyoshi until today."
The Shiki's affections for Kyoshi led the formation of Haiku world, the origin of Modern Haiku, owing to that Kyoshi passed on "Hototogisu" started by Kyokudo, the member of "Shofu-kai".
At that time, though the acquaintance of Shiki, Souseki and Kyoshi was on intimate terms, it was unusual for three of them to meet together.
Shiki composed the following Haiku, prefacing "Souseki and Kyoshi came on New Year's Eve of 1895 (Meiji 28).
"I've had a busy time
Souseki and Kyoshi came to see me
Just on New Year's Eve"
(Shiki)
Shiki ended his life of aged thirty-six on September 19th of 1902 (Meiji 35).
Souseki was informed of Shiki's death and sent the letter addressed to Kyoshi with the following Haiku for message of condolence during his stay in London.
"I have no incense stick
To offer mourning the death of Shiki
In the evening of autumn"
(Soseki)
Soseki opened his eyes to Haiku based on his view of literature and life that had been cultivated in Gudabutsuan hermitage, and then, he built the foundation of entering the stage of literary world as a novelist.
Soseki published his first novel, "I am a cat" in "Hototogisu" (published on Jan. of 1905 (Meiji 38) ) by the recommendation of Kyoshi, after ten years since he left Matsuyama. And soon after, he published his masterpiece "Botchan", and these spirits were sublated to "Sokuten-Kyosi : Conforming to providence and throwing away selfishness."
