Wabi Sabi Writing Club

Zuihitsu

This month we are exploring the Japanese poetry form of zuihitsu.

Zuihitsu is a Japanese literary form, roughly translated as "following the brush," characterized by its spontaneous, fragmented, and loosely connected nature. It combines elements of essays, poems, lists, and personal musings, often exploring themes of nature, beauty, and personal experience.

Zuihitsu emerged in the 10th century, with Sei Shōnagon's The Pillow Book being a prominent example. See this earlier Substack post. The word refers to the flow of writing as if following the movement of a brush on paper.

I hope you will consider taking out a paid subscription to this newsletter. I have recently begun to donate 50% of all subscriptions to Doctors Without Borders.