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Sacred Poetry from Around the World

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Buddhist : Zen / Chan

17th Century

Japan
(East Asia)

Basho

Timeline (1644 - 1694)

Poems by Basho
Books - Links

Basho, Basho poetry, Buddhist, Buddhist poetry, Zen / Chan poetry, poetry, poetry

Basho took his name from the Japanese word for "banana tree." He was given a gift of a banana tree by a student and the poet immediately identified with it: the way the small tree just stood there with its large, soft, fragile leaves. (See his banana plant haiku.)

Basho was probably born in 1644 in Iga Province outside of Kyoto, Japan. His father was probably a poor samurai-farmer.

As a teenager, Basho entered the service of the local lord, acting as a page. The young lord was only a couple of years older than Basho, and the two became friends, enjoying the playful exchange of haiku verses.

When Basho was a young man, his friend and lord died and the lord's brother took over the clan. In reaction, Basho left home, abandoned his samurai status, and took to a life of wandering.

After several years, he settled in Edo (Tokyo), continuing to write and publish poetry. His haiku began to garner notariety. Students began to gather around Basho. At about this time, Basho also started to practice Zen meditation.

Basho remained restless, even in his fame. A neighborhood fire claimed his small house in Edo leaving him homeless, and Basho once again took up the itinerant life, visiting friends and disciples, taking up residence for brief periods only to begin another journey. It was during this time that Basho composed some of his greatest, most natural haiku.

Basho returned to Edo in 1691 and died there in 1694.

Poems by Basho

	A banana plant in the autumn gale -
	Come, let's go
	Crow's
	Journey's end--
	Skylark
	Temple bell,
	Wintry day,
	Year's end,

Recommended Books

	A Box of Zen: Haiku the Poetry of Zen, Koans the Lessons of Zen, Sayings the Wisdom of Zen, Edited by Manuela Dunn Mascetti / Edited by Timothy Hugh Barrett
	Classic Haiku: An Anthology of Poems by Basho and His Followers, Translated by Asataro Miyamori
	The Complete Basho Poems, Translated by Keith Harrison
	The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell
	Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson & Issa, Translated by Robert Hass
	Matsuo Basho, by Makoto Ueda
	The Narrow Road to Oku, by Matsuo Basho / Translated by Donald Keene
	Narrow Road to the Interior: And Other Writings (Shambhala Classics), by Matsuo Basho / Translated by Sam Hamill
	On Love and Barley: Haiku of Basho, Translated by Lucien Stryk
	Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter, Translated by Lucien Stryk / Translated by Takashi Ikemoto

Related Links:

	Matsuo Basho's Narrow Road to the Deep North http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/%7Ekohl/basho/life.html A good exploration of Basho's life and poetry.
	Poem Hunter: Matsuo Basho http://www.poemhunter.com/matsuo-basho/poet-9224/ A complete list of Basho's poems.

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Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Basho

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World