In Japanese literary tradition, drops of dew are used symbolically to represent human life and its transience, in reference to the Buddhist allegory between the fleeting nature of dewdrops and human life.
“… a dew drop on the tip of a blade of grass will quickly vanish at sunrise … human life (is) like a dew drop. It is short, limited, and brief; it is full of suffering, full of tribulation. This, one should wisely understand. One should do good and live a pure life; for none who is born can escape death.” (Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha's Words)
In Buddhist teachings, one should not grow attached to material things or people. Life is fleeting…like a dew drop, and this reality should be accepted and contemplated. Accomplishing this detachment is a major goal of Buddhist practitioners, and a subject that is often touched upon in Asian literature.
“I will die, you will die…That’s all that my guru taught me, and that’s all that I practice. Just meditate on that. I promise there is nothing greater than that.” - Drubthop Chövung
Kobayashi Issa, one of the most prolific Meiji era poets, often referred to this Buddhist concept. Each short poem contains imagery of nature and layers of meaning that people still write books about today.
“A world of dew,
and within every dewdrop
a world of struggle”
“unaware of life
passing like dewdrops
they frolic”
A year after the death of his child, Issa wrote the following on his greif and lack of Buddhist detachment.
“This world of dew
is only a world of dew -
and yet…”
Thought to be a commentary on social hierarchy:
“Even among silver
dewdrops
some big, some little”