If you think our times are tumultuous, read how a 12th century Japanese poet survived calamity – and learned life lessons

IN THE CLASSIC HOJOKI : VISIONS OF A TORN WORLD, 12th century Japanese poet Kamo-no-Chomei describes a holocaust, a catastrophic storm, the plague and a mighty earthquake – and poses the question of how a man should live. This 1996 translation is by Yasuhiko Moriguchi and David Jenkins

Soon after
– I wonder now, when was it was –
a great quake
shook the earth.

This too was
a terrible event.

Mountains fell
and filled the rivers.

The seas heaved
and flooded the land.

The earth itself split
and water gushed out.

Giant rocks cracked
and rolled down
into the valleys.

Boats along the shore
were helpless in the waves.

Horses on the streets
stumbled as they walked.

Around the capital
not one temple or pagoda
remained intact.

Some collapsed
and some fell over.

Dust and ashes rose
like billows of smoke.

Earth shaking,
houses breaking
sounded like the crash
of falling thunderbolts.

Caught inside
a house might crush you.

Outside, the ground was torn apart.

Without wings
you could not fly away.
Only a dragon
may ride the clouds!

Surely such an earthquake
is the most terrifying of events ...

Of the four elements,
water, fire, and wind
often cause great damage.
Earth does not so often
bring catastrophe.

For a while right after
there was talk
of the vanities of this world,
and people seemed to be rid
of the sinfulness in their hearts.

But days and months went by, then years,
and no one spoke of it again ...

Men of means
have much to fear

Those with none
know only bitterness.

If you entrust yourself
to the care of others
you will be owned by them.

If you care for others
you will be enslaved
by your own solicitude.

If you conform to the world
it will bind you hand and foot.

If you do not, then
it will think you mad.

And so the question,
where should we live?
And how

Where to find
A place to rest a while?

And how bring
even short-lived peace
to our hearts?