How to make Renga/Renku.

Recently in Japan, owing to the great length of a 36-link renga, the 20 link renga has become popular. I will set out below the details on order of links and seasons.

 Su=Summer, Au=Autumn, Wi=Winter, Sp=Spring, fr=free(anything goes) c.b.= Cherry Blossoms
 
  

    1      2       3      4       5       6       7       8       9       10
   Su    Au   moon   Au     fr      fr      Wi     Wi     fr       Sp
   
   11      12       13      14       15       16       17       18      19       20
  Love    Sp      Su       fr       Su       Au      Au       fr       c.b.      Sp
Because it is only short it is fairly easy to make and therefore,
 to increase the challenge, the above rules are used.


 In the case of a 36 link renga the following rules apply.

 The first 5,7,5 link is called a Hokku and must include a season word.

 The second link (7,7) must include a season word of the same season as the hokku.
 The third link (5,7,5) must change the scene.
 The renga is then made by alternating 7,7 links with 5,7,5 links. It is not necessary to include a season word in these links except for the exceptions noted below.
 Around the 5th link must contain a reference to the moon.
 A reference to "love" must be made between the 17-19th link.
 The second last link (Ageku) must contain a reference to "blossoms".
 (The word blossoms in Japan implies those of the sakura or cherry)
 Seasons may not run backwards. (ie. Summer to Spring is not allowed)
 You may not re-use any of the same themes that have appeared before.
 Spring and Autumn themes may be continued for 3-5 links.
 Summer and Winter themes may only be continued for 1-3 links.


 Each link should form a complete poem with the link that immediately follows it, and another complete poem with the one that comes before it. Often the meaning of a particular link will change as it is considered first with the one preceding it, and then with the one succeeding it. And of these three there may be no relationship at all between the first and last. The only link that must be able to stand alone is the hokku, the "starting link" of the complete renga.

 Happy renga-ing

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