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Masahide

Timeline (1657? - 1723)

Poems by Masahide
Books

Mizuta Masahide was a samurai in the Zeze domain of Ohmi Province. Masahide initially studied haikai first under Shohaku but later became a disciple of the famous poet Basho.

In 1688 Masahide's house was burnt down, prompting him to write his most famous haiku Barn's burnt down... This haiku is said to have been highly praised by Basho. Masahide visited Basho who was staying in the southern shore of the Lake Biwa and under Basho's tutorial studied haikai diligently.

After the death of Basho in 1694, Masahide lamented that no one would praise if he wrote haikai according to ryuko (newness, change or fashion) and that he would therefore just concentrate on fueki (eternal poetic truth).

Masahide practiced medicine as well and loved drink. He died about 30 years after Basho.

(Thank you to Susumi Takeguchi and Gabriel Rosenstock for supplying these biographical notes.)

Poems by Masahide

Japanese Death Poems, Translated by Yoel Hoffman

Amazon.com

Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter, Translated by Lucien Stryk / Translated by Takashi Ikemoto

Amazon.com

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