はつ夢や正しく去年の放し亀
hatsuyume ya masashiku kozo no hanashi-game[1]
first dream
it was last year’s
freed turtle
—Gonsui[2]
The New Year in Japan brings a collection of firsts that people enjoy doing. Of these, first dream and first sunrise may be the most popular.
This haiku looks at one of those firsts: the first dream of the year. Gonsui’s dream of turtles would be a very auspicious dream—a dream of turtles he set free in the previous year, doubly so.
Liberating animals once or twice a year is an old Buddhist practice, and that is what Gonsui is referring to here. Turtles are a very special creature in Japan. In mythology the turtle is associated with long life—1000 years, they say—and it is also a very thankful creature, always returning any kindness shown to it. One may be reminded of the folk tale Urashima Taro in which as a reward for saving him the turtle rewards Urashima by taking him to the kingdom at the bottom of the sea.
In olden times fishermen would throw back any turtles they caught, but not before treating them to a bit of saké. No doubt they hoped the turtle would be thankful and would come back to reward them.
In Gonsui’s dream, was the turtle (or turtles) he released showing up to express gratitude and perhaps give a gift of long life? I’m sure Gonsui hoped so!