| Masahide Japan (1657? - 1723) Timeline Buddhist : Zen / Chan Poems by Masahide Books |
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 care 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
 |
 |
|||
| Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter | Japanese Death Poems |
