Matsuo Basho

Matsuo Basho was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. He is widely regarded as the greatest master of haiku, a form of short poem that captures the essence of a moment. He is also known for his travel essays, such as The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which chronicle his journeys across Japan. Basho was born in 1644, near Ueno, in Iga Province. His family was of samurai descent, but his father was a farmer. Basho became interested in poetry at a young age, and served as a page to a local lord, Todo Yoshitada, who shared his passion for haiku. After Yoshitada's death in 1666, Basho left his home and moved to Kyoto, where he studied with the poet Kitamura Kigin. He later moved to Edo (now Tokyo), where he gained fame and followers for his haiku. He adopted the name Basho, after the banana tree (basho) that one of his disciples planted in his hut. Basho renounced the urban life and devoted himself to traveling and writing. He wandered throughout the country, visiting famous places and composing poems about them. He also participated in renku, a form of collaborative poetry, with his disciples and friends. He wrote several haiku collections, such as The Monkey's Straw Raincoat, The Seashell Game, and Shriveled Chestnuts. He also wrote haibun, a hybrid form of prose and haiku, such as Records of a Weather-Exposed Skeleton, The Knapsack Notebook, and Sarashina Travelogue. His most celebrated work is The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which recounts his journey to the northern provinces in 1689. Basho died in 1694, in Osaka, after suffering from a stomach illness. He was buried at Gichu-ji Temple, in Otsu, where his disciples erected a tombstone with his haiku: Fallen sick on a journey In dreams I run wildly Over a withered moor. Basho's poetry is admired for its simplicity, elegance, and sensitivity to nature. He often used images of the seasons, animals, plants, and weather to express his emotions and insights. He also used allusions to classical literature, history, and religion, as well as humor and irony, to enrich his poems. He influenced many poets, both in Japan and abroad, and his works have been translated into many languages. He is considered one of the greatest poets of all time.