Japanese Death Poems Written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the Verge of Death

This book is a masterpiece filled with sorrow and profound beauty, weaving together emotions of loss, longing, and resilience in a deeply moving narrative. I dare to declare this book a timeless work of art, one that resonates with the depths of human emotion and leaves an indelible mark on the soul.

One of my favorite books of all time. An beautiful collection of last words - which might sound morbid at first, but almost all of these ‘jisei’ have a sense of overwhelming calm, beauty and peace to them - some are even deliberately funny. These deeply moving, short commemorations are more like a celebration of life and offer a unique look into the japanese way of thinking. Most of the meticulously translated jisei featured in this book come with background information about the lives and history of japanese people and japanese culture in general. An absolute treasure for anyone interested in japanese culture.