Mirror for the Moon Author:Saigyo This edition of Mirror for the Moon, translated by William R. LaFleur, is a translation of the early medieval Japanese poet Saigyo. — Born in 1118 into a branch of the powerful Fujiwara clan, he left behind decadent court life at the age of 23 and took Buddhist vows. — His poems, written in waka's traditional 31-syllables, reflect his pervading me... more »lancholy at the growing savagery of the world in which he lived.
By the time of his death in 1190, the Fujiwaras had been banished from power and replaced by the Shoguns, Japan's first military dictators.« less