Doi Bansui

Doï Bansui
(1871 - 1952)

Monument of the poem "The moon over the ruined castle" and the bust of Bansui, located at the site of Aoba Castle, Sendaï

DOÏ BANSUI, whose real name was Tsuchiï Rinkichi, was born in Sendaï, Miyagi Prefecture Japan.
He studied English Literature at the Imperial University of Tôkyô. He was the editorial staff of the college magazine "Teïkoku Bungaku", or "Imperial Literature". He published some of his own poems on it and they attracted many readers.
There he learned from Lafcadio Hearn and respected him very much as many of other students did. He dedicated his own poem on Hearn's 25th anniversary.
After he graduated the University, he taught English as a Professor of the Second Higher Middle School in Sendai. And he translated many literary works in Japanese. Among them, Homer's "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" (translated directly from Greek) are regarded as his greatest work as a translator.
He also wrote many poems and made an epoch to Japanese modern poetry with Shimazaki Tôson. Especially, "Kôjô-no-Tsuki (Moon above the ruined castle)", composed by Taki Rentarô, is well-known as one of the most popular song in Japan.
In 1934, he changed his surname to "Doï", because his name written in Chinese character was mis-pronounced as such so often. And today he is known as "Doï Bansui".

Main Works

Emotion in the Universe: Collected poems
Morning Bell: Collected poems
Weather is bad in rainy days: Essay
Bansui says: Essay
Moon above the ruined castle: Song(composed by Taki Rentarô)

| Back | Map |