In the eighteenth century haiku On the one-ton temple bell by Taniguchi Buson (1716 – 1783), we can perceive an immense array of messages.

On the one-ton temple bell
A moon moth folded into sleep
Sits still


We know the approximate time of day, season and the weather. For example, the key to understanding the time and season are the words ‘moon moth’ and ‘sleep’. A moth is nocturnal butterfly, and is active at night and during the warmer months of the year, in spring or summer.

Given that it is a ‘moon moth’ it is probably reputed to be particularly active during a full moon, and we could speculate that it sleeps or rests once the moon has set. We presume such an insect would go to sleep at or before dawn.

The setting of the haiku is a Japanese temple, probably Buddhist, very early in the morning. There is a strong sense of anticipation. This is because monks get up extremely early to engage in prayer or meditation, and they are awoken by the ringing of a bell. In this case it is an enormous bell that weighs a thousand kilograms, that is one ton. We know therefore that the moth is going to be disturbed and fly away.

As for the theme, it is simply a sentiment that nature is very fragile in the face of civilization. We have this through two impressions: the visual image of a rather delicate moth on the metal surface of the bell, and the strong feeling of apprehension of the bell about to ring.

Although succinct it is still serial and not as effective as a picture. With a painting we receive the information as reflected light in one moment and there is no possibility of misinterpretation. Our opinion of what we see is based on the ‘shape’ of our brains and how it has been colored by our experience. No-one can gainsay our impression of a painting.

The written word however is open to misinterpretation, especially for language students. In the above haiku very often ESL students confuse the word 'ton' with 'tone'‚ altering the meaning.

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