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Research Article
End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models
Osamu Okumura*,
Shuichi Ōhashi
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
1-16
Received:
12 November 2025
Accepted:
27 November 2025
Published:
29 December 2025
Abstract: This research examines three haiku from Matsuo Bashō's masterwork Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North): "Inochi futatsu no naka ni ikitaru sakura kana" (Living within two lives-the cherry blossoms), "Hamaguri no futami ni wakare yuku aki zo" (Like a clam's shell at Futami, we part as autumn departs), and "Araumi ya Sado ni yokotau Amanogawa" (Turbulent seas-stretching toward Sado, the Milky Way). We employ PlantUML C4 models to conduct a structural analysis of these haiku. By applying the four abstraction layers of the C4 model (Context, Container, Component, and Code) to haiku interpretation, we systematically visualize the elements of end-of-life contemplation (shūkatsu) and well-being embedded within these poems. Our analysis reveals common themes across all three haiku: acceptance of the duality of life and death, re-recognition of relationships, and transcendence through devotion to nature-all core elements of spiritual well-being in the context of preparing for life's end. This methodology demonstrates the potential to rediscover the contemporary value of classical literature and suggests applications for practical end-of-life support. The findings provide a structured framework for understanding how poetic forms can encapsulate profound existential insights, offering valuable perspectives for both literary studies and contemporary well-being practices.
Abstract: This research examines three haiku from Matsuo Bashō's masterwork Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North): "Inochi futatsu no naka ni ikitaru sakura kana" (Living within two lives-the cherry blossoms), "Hamaguri no futami ni wakare yuku aki zo" (Like a clam's shell at Futami, we part as autumn departs), and "Araumi ya Sado ni yokotau A...
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Case Report
Structural Analysis of Well-being Concepts in Matsuo Bashō's Haiku: An Interdisciplinary Approach Using PlantUML C4 Model and DEMATEL Method
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
17-42
Received:
14 November 2025
Accepted:
26 November 2025
Published:
29 December 2025
Abstract: In modern society, the pursuit of well-being (WB) has become a crucial issue. This study aims to analytically elucidate the structure of WB concepts inherent in Japanese classical literature, particularly Matsuo Bashō's haiku, by applying engineering and mathematical methods. Specifically, using representative haiku by Bashō as the object of analysis, we model the psychological and philosophical elements underlying them as system components. We then utilize the "PlantUML C4 Model," used in software architecture description, to comprehensively visualize the components of WB concepts. Furthermore, we apply the "DEMATEL method (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory)," one of the multi-criteria decision analysis techniques, to quantitatively identify causal relationships and influence levels among elements. This enables us to propose a multi-layered WB conceptual model unique to Japanese culture, encompassing "harmony with nature," "paradoxical integration of emotions," and "sustainable fulfillment through introspection" as demonstrated in Bashō's haiku. This research suggests possibilities for interdisciplinary fusion between classical literary studies and systems engineering, and contributes to the spiritual richness of modern people by presenting a new perspective on WB based on Eastern thought.
Abstract: In modern society, the pursuit of well-being (WB) has become a crucial issue. This study aims to analytically elucidate the structure of WB concepts inherent in Japanese classical literature, particularly Matsuo Bashō's haiku, by applying engineering and mathematical methods. Specifically, using representative haiku by Bashō as the object of analys...
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Research Article
Semantic Polysemy as a Result of Syntactic Play
Olena Pokhyliuk*
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
43-50
Received:
16 November 2025
Accepted:
6 December 2025
Published:
16 January 2026
Abstract: This study investigates the complex relationship between semantic polysemy and syntactic structures in contemporary English. Semantic polysemy refers to the phenomenon in which a single word carries multiple related meanings, with interpretation shifting according to syntactic and pragmatic context. This variability reflects the flexibility of language and the cognitive mechanisms that allow speakers to adapt meaning to diverse communicative situations. By analyzing how polysemous words function across different syntactic environments, the research shows that meaning is not static but dynamically shaped by grammatical structure and contextual usage. The methodology is qualitative, focusing on detailed examination of polysemous words in literature, academic discourse, and online media. Each occurrence was analyzed to determine how syntactic variation influences interpretation. This approach provides a comprehensive view of the mechanisms through which syntax interacts with semantics to generate multiple layers of meaning. The findings reveal that structures such as subordination, repetition, and inversion play significant roles in activating specific semantic nuances, underscoring the importance of syntax in shaping interpretation. The study also adopts a comparative perspective, drawing on examples from contemporary English poetry, particularly the works of Carolyn Forché. Her innovative use of syntax illustrates how polysemy can be enriched through poetic language, inviting readers to explore multiple interpretations and enhancing the emotional and thematic depth of her texts. The analysis shows that syntactic devices such as repetition and variation are not merely stylistic ornaments but essential mechanisms for constructing meaning and guiding interpretive processes. Beyond theoretical linguistics, the implications of this research extend to applied fields. In natural language processing and artificial intelligence, a nuanced understanding of polysemy and its syntactic conditioning is crucial for improving systems that aim to approximate human communication. In language pedagogy, insights into the relationship between syntax and semantic variability can inform teaching strategies that help learners navigate complexities of meaning. The study highlights that awareness of syntactic interplay can enhance learners’ ability to interpret texts more flexibly and creatively. In conclusion, this research contributes to the broader field of linguistics by demonstrating that semantic polysemy cannot be fully understood without considering its syntactic environment. By integrating qualitative, corpus-based, and comparative approaches, the study offers valuable insights into the dynamic nature of language, its cognitive foundations, and its expressive potential. The findings emphasize that syntax is not only a structural framework but also a key factor in the construction and interpretation of meaning.
Abstract: This study investigates the complex relationship between semantic polysemy and syntactic structures in contemporary English. Semantic polysemy refers to the phenomenon in which a single word carries multiple related meanings, with interpretation shifting according to syntactic and pragmatic context. This variability reflects the flexibility of lang...
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Research Article
Between Empire and Modernity, Kang Youwei's Neapolitan and Pompeian Travelogue as a Catalyst for Reimagining Sino-Western Relations
Guido Anichini*
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
51-58
Received:
6 January 2026
Accepted:
16 January 2026
Published:
30 January 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.llc.20260201.14
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Abstract: This paper reinterprets Kang Youwei’s (1858–1927) Neapolitan Travelogue as a pivotal text in the late Qing intellectual transition from the tianxia (天下, “All Under Heaven”) world order to the modern system of nation-states. Written during Kang’s European exile following the failure of the Hundred Days’ Reform, the work transforms his journey through Naples and Pompeii into a site of theoretical experimentation, rather than a mere record of travel. Through a comparative reading of Italian antiquity and Confucian historiography, this study argues that Kang employed Southern Italy as a mirror through which to reimagine China’s relationship to modernity and global civilisation. By analysing Kang’s encounters with Naples’s urban layers, the ruins of Pompeii, and the Mediterranean landscape, the paper introduces the concept of Comparative Antiquarianism—a method through which Kang reconciled China’s imperial heritage with the demands of progress. Naples, viewed as a “living ruin,” provided a tangible embodiment of his sanshi (三世, “Three Ages”) theory, where disorder, transition, and harmony coexist within the same temporal and spatial field. For Kang, Pompeii’s excavation offered archaeological proof for a cyclical conception of modernity, transforming the city into a jian (鑑, “mirror”) warning China of the dangers of political inertia and moral complacency. Rejecting the Social Darwinist hierarchies that dominated early twentieth-century thought, Kang proposed instead a civilisational parity between East and West—an equative gaze that saw both as participants in a shared human cycle of rise, decline, and renewal. Ultimately, Kang’s Yidali youji reframed Sino-Western relations through a utopian vision of Global Harmony (Datong 大同), where Confucian ethics and modern industrial achievements coexist. His Neapolitan reflections thus reveal an alternative, transcultural genealogy of modernity grounded in mutual recognition rather than binary opposition.
Abstract: This paper reinterprets Kang Youwei’s (1858–1927) Neapolitan Travelogue as a pivotal text in the late Qing intellectual transition from the tianxia (天下, “All Under Heaven”) world order to the modern system of nation-states. Written during Kang’s European exile following the failure of the Hundred Days’ Reform, the work transforms his journey throug...
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