The following are examples of the structure of Renga. They are not absolutes, or invariable. All of them have been varied at some time or the other, but they include most of the "rules". I had started to do my own notes on them, but then found the three 36 link versions on Jane Reichhold's web site, they *are* copyrighted by her, with permission to copy and share. My thanks to her for saving me a massive amount of time and doing a great service to us all by publishing them. Her web site is a treasure trove, and is a must visit if you're interested in Japanese forms. (http://www.faximum.com/aha!poetry/)

I strongly advise you to stay with these guidelines until you have developed your own understanding of Renga, what you can do with them, and your individual feeling for them. There be dragons for the unwary.

If you don't know much about Renga, there is a link on the cage unhitched to an introductory file on them that I suggest you read in conjunction with these outlines. Also, there are links to a other introductory files on Tanka, from which Renga evolved some 8OO years ago in Japan. And on Haiku too.


*****

This is the form for doing a traditional winter kasen renga.

[title - often taken from the first link]

[Between: authors' names]

[Add your links with the proper number of lines as shown in brackets.

Seasons and subjects. W = winter; Sp = spring; Su = summer; A = autumn; N = non-seasonal; L = love verse.]

1. [3] W

2. [2] W

3. [3] N (Should end with a verb)

4. [2] N

5. [3] MOON / A

6.[2] A (You must also write #7)

***

7. [3] A

8. [2] N/L

9. [3] N/L

10. [2] N/L

11. [3] N

12. [2] N

13. [3] SUMMER MOON

14. [2] SU

15. [3] N

16. [2] N

17. [3] FLOWER/SP

18. [2] SP (You should also write #19)

***

19. [3] SP

20. [2] N

21. [3] N

22. [2] N

23. [3] W

24. [2] W

25 [3] N/L

26 [2] N/L

27. [3] N/L

28. [2] N

29. [3] MOON/A

30. [2] A (You should also write #31)

***

31. [3] A

32. [2] N

33. [3] N

34. [2] N/SP

35. [3] FLOWER/SP

36. [2] SP

ageku

closure

Started:

Finished:

Form designed and shared by Jane Reichhold, 1996.

***

Form for a traditional spring Kasen renga

[title - often taken from the first verse.]

[Between: authors' names]

[SP=spring; SU=summer; A=autumn; W=winter; N=non-seasonal or relating to persons

A few basis rules to remember. Avoid repeating a noun or verb in the work. Switch subject matter so there are not too many
verses on food or water, etc. Link ONLY to the verse above and not to any other. Use the words "insects" and "dreams"
only once in a poem and never use the word "woman" (?!?). I'm not making this up. Sign your link, please.]

1. [3] SP

2. [2] SP

3. [3] SP

4. [2] N

5. [3] MOON/A

6. [2] A must also write the next link

7. [3] A

8. [2] N/LOVE

9. [3] N/LOVE

10. [2] N/LOVE

11. [3] N

12.[2] N

13. [3] MOON/SU

14. [2] SU

15. [3] SU

16. [2] N

17. [3] FLOWER/SP

18. [2] also write #19

19. [3] SP

20. [2] N

21. [3] N

22. [2] N

23. [3] W

24. [2] W

25. [3] N/LOVE

26. [2] N/LOVE

27. [3] N/LOVE

28. [2] N

29. [3] MOON/A

30. [2] A also write #31

31. [3] A

32. [2] N

33. [3] N

34. [2] N

35. [3] FLOWER/SP

36. [2] SP should relate to #1 in some way and close the work

Date started:

Date finished:

Form designed and shared by Jane Reichhold, 1996.

*****

Kasen Renga Form Summer

[Your Title - often taken from the hokku]

A Traditional Summer Kasen Renga

Started - Finished:

Written by / between:

[SU = summer; A = autumn; W = winter; SP = spring; Misc. = non-seasonal references - usually about people or feelings
or places; Love = well you can decide... Moons are always autumn unless you name it a summer or winter or spring moon]

1.[3]

[SU]

________________________________________________________________________

2.[2]

[SU]

________________________________________________________________________

3.[3]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

4.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

5.[3]

[MOON / A]

________________________________________________________________________

6.[2]

[A]

[also write

link #7]

7.[3]

[A]

________________________________________________________________________

8.[2]

[Misc. / Love]

________________________________________________________________________

9.[3]

[Misc. / Love]

________________________________________________________________________

10.[2]

[Misc. / Love]

________________________________________________________________________

11.[3]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

12.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

13.[3]

[MOON / W]

________________________________________________________________________

14.[2]

[W]

________________________________________________________________________

15.[3]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

16.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

17.[3]

[FLOWER / SP]

________________________________________________________________________

18.[2] [SP]

[also write

link #19]

19.[3]

[SP]

________________________________________________________________________

20.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

21.[3]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

22.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

23.[3]

[SU]

________________________________________________________________________

24.[2]

[SU]

________________________________________________________________________

25.[3]

[Misc. / Love]

________________________________________________________________________

26.[2]

[Misc./ Love]

________________________________________________________________________

27.[3]

[Misc./ Love]

________________________________________________________________________

28.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

29.[3]

[MOON / A]

________________________________________________________________________

30.[2] [A]

[also write

link #31]

31.[3]

[A]

________________________________________________________________________

32.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

33.[3]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

34.[2]

[Misc. / SP]

________________________________________________________________________

35.[3]

[FLOWER / SP]

________________________________________________________________________

36.[2]

[SP]

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright © Jane Reichhold 1994.

Permission to copy given.

****

Kasen Renga Form - Autumn

[Your Title -- often taken from the hokku]

A Traditional Autumn Kasen Renga

Started - Finished:

Written by / between:

[SU = summer; A = autumn; W = winter; SP = spring;
Misc. = non-seasonal references -- usually about people or feelings or places;
Love = well you can decide... Moons are always autumn unless you name it a summer or winter or spring moon.
SU/W = have a run of either summer or winter verses; not mixed.]

1.[3]

[A]

________________________________________________________________________

2.[2]

[MOON]

________________________________________________________________________

3.[3]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

4.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

5.[3]

[W]

________________________________________________________________________

6.[2]

[W]

[also write

link #7]

7.[3]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

8.[2]

[Misc. / Love]

________________________________________________________________________

9.[3]

[Misc. / Love]

________________________________________________________________________

10.[2]

[Misc. / Love]

________________________________________________________________________

11.[3]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

12.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

13.[3]

[MOON SU / W]

________________________________________________________________________

14.[2]

[SU/W]

________________________________________________________________________

15.[3]

[SU/W]

________________________________________________________________________

16.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

17.[3]

[FLOWER / SP]

________________________________________________________________________

18.[2] [SP]

[also write

link #19]

19.[3]

[SP]

________________________________________________________________________

20.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

21.[3]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

22.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

23.[3]

[SU/W]

________________________________________________________________________

24.[2]

[SU/W]

________________________________________________________________________

25.[3]

[Misc. / Love]

________________________________________________________________________

26.[2]

[Misc./ Love]

________________________________________________________________________

27.[3]

[Misc./ Love]

________________________________________________________________________

28.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

29.[3]

[MOON / A]

________________________________________________________________________

30.[2] [A]

[also write

link #31]


31.[3]

[A]

________________________________________________________________________

32.[2]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

33.[3]

[Misc.]

________________________________________________________________________

34.[2]

[Misc. / SP]

________________________________________________________________________

35.[3]

[FLOWER / SP]

________________________________________________________________________

36.[2]

[SP]

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright © Jane Reichhold 1994.

Permission to copy given.

******

Guidelines for the 20 link Renga:

The hokku is 5-7-5, the next link 7-7, and so on.


Abbreviations used:

Sum=Summer, Aut=Autumn, Win=Winter, Spr=Spring, Free=free(anything goes) Ch/Bl= Cherry Blossoms


1. Sum

2. Aut

3. Moon

4. Aut

5. Free

6. Free

7. Win

8. Win

9. Free

10. Spr

11. Love

12. Spr

13. Free

14. Free

15. Sum

16. Aut

17. Aut

18. Free

19. Ch/Bl

20. Spr