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Buddhist : Zen / Chan

17th Century

Japan
(East Asia)

Matsuo Basho

Timeline (1644 - 1694)

Poems by Matsuo Basho
Books - Links

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

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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 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 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 still a young man, his friend and lord died. 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 attract attention. Students started to gather around him. At about this time, Basho also took up 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 haiku.

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

Poems by Matsuo Basho

	A banana plant in the autumn gale
	Along this road
	Clouds
	Come, let's go
	Crow's
	Death-song
	Dewdrop, let me cleanse
	From moon wreathed
	If there were fragrance
	It is deep autumn
	Journey's end
	Old pond
	Skylark
	Such utter silence!
	Summer grasses
	Temple bell
	The temple bell dies away
	This snowy morning
	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 Amazon.com
	Classic Haiku: An Anthology of Poems by Basho and His Followers, Translated by Asataro Miyamori Amazon.com
	The Complete Basho Poems, Translated by Keith Harrison Amazon.com
	The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell Amazon.com
	Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson & Issa, Translated by Robert Hass Amazon.com
	The Four Seasons: Japanese Haiku, Translated by Peter Beilenson Amazon.com
	Matsuo Basho, by Makoto Ueda Amazon.com
	The Narrow Road to Oku, by Matsuo Basho / Translated by Donald Keene Amazon.com
	Narrow Road to the Interior: And Other Writings (Shambhala Classics), by Matsuo Basho / Translated by Sam Hamill Amazon.com
	On Love and Barley: Haiku of Basho, Translated by Lucien Stryk Amazon.com
	The Poetry of Zen: (Shambhala Library), Edited by Sam Hamill / Edited by J. P. Seaton Amazon.com
	Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter, Translated by Lucien Stryk / Translated by Takashi Ikemoto Amazon.com

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.
	On the Poet's Trail - National Geographic Magazine http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/02/bashos-trail/howard-norman-text A fascinating article with beautiful photographs tracing Basho's travels.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Matsuo Basho

Daily Poem Email

Support the Poetry Chaikhana

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Support
the Poetry Chaikhana