Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) is one of the most renowned and respected poets in Japanese literature, and is often considered the master of the haiku, a form of poetry consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines of 5-7-5 syllables. Born in Iga Province (present-day Mie Prefecture), Basho’s life and work were characterized by a deep connection to nature and a restless spirit, which took him on various journeys throughout Japan. His poetic legacy has endured for centuries, and this discourse will explore his life, poetry, and the relevance of his work in the 21st century.
Biography of Matsuo Basho
Matsuo Basho was born in 1644, in Iga Province, as the son of a low-ranking samurai. At a young age, he developed an interest in poetry and eventually moved to Kyoto to study under the guidance of Kitamura Kigin (1624-1705), a prominent poet of the day (Ueda, 1992). Basho then moved to Edo (present-day Tokyo) and continued his studies, where he eventually gained recognition and attracted a circle of devoted disciples.
In 1680, Basho’s life took a significant turn when one of his disciples built a small hut for him, which was surrounded by banana plants (known as “basho” in Japanese). This inspired him to adopt the pen name “Basho” and marked the beginning of his transformation into a wandering poet (Ueda, 1992). Over the following years, Basho embarked on several journeys throughout Japan, documenting his experiences and composing haiku along the way. His most famous travelogue is “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” (Oku no Hosomichi), a collection of prose and haiku that details his journey through the northern provinces of Japan.
Ten Examples of Basho’s Haiku and Their Meaning and Context
Basho’s haiku are characterized by their deep connection to nature and their ability to convey profound emotions and thoughts through simple and vivid imagery. Here are ten examples of his haiku, along with explanations of their meaning and context:
(1) “An old silent pond / A frog jumps into the pond— / Splash! Silence again.”
In this haiku, Basho captures the stillness of a pond and the sudden disruption caused by a frog jumping in. The poem evokes a sense of tranquility and the fleeting nature of life’s moments.
(2) “The summer grasses / All that remains / Of soldiers’ dreams.”
In this poem, Basho reflects on the impermanence of life, as the dreams of soldiers who once fought on a battlefield are now reduced to nothing but summer grasses.
(3) “Winter seclusion – / Listening, that evening, / To the rain in the mountain.”
This haiku captures the essence of solitude in winter, with the poet retreating from the world and finding comfort in the sound of rain on the mountains.
(4) “A bee / Staggers out / Of the peony.”
In this poem, Basho portrays the image of a bee, heavy with pollen, struggling to leave a peony flower. The scene symbolizes the natural beauty and the interconnectedness of life.
(5) “First cherry blossoms! / It’s like they’ve been waiting / For the moonlit night.”
In this haiku, Basho celebrates the beauty of cherry blossoms illuminated by the moonlight, suggesting that they were waiting for this moment to reveal their true splendor.
(6) “Breaking the silence / Of an ancient pond, / A frog jumped
into water — / A deep resonance.”
This haiku is another version of the famous “frog pond” poem. The sudden sound of the frog jumping into the water disrupts the silence, creating a deep resonance that echoes throughout the ancient pond.
(7) “A lonely moon / No other sign of autumn / Than the scarecrow.”
In this poem, Basho captures the melancholy of autumn through the image of a scarecrow standing alone under the moonlight. The scarecrow serves as a symbol of the season’s desolation and quiet beauty.
(8) “Love between us is / Like a temple among / The cherry blossoms.”
In this romantic haiku, Basho compares the love between two people to a temple surrounded by cherry blossoms, suggesting the sacred and enduring nature of their connection.
(9) “Over the wintry / Forest, winds howl in rage / With no leaves to blow.”
This haiku paints a stark image of a leafless forest in winter, where the wind rages with nothing to hold it back. The poem emphasizes the raw power and desolation of the season.
(10) “Year’s end, all / Corners of this / Floating world, swept.”
In this haiku, Basho describes the practice of cleaning one’s home at the end of the year, symbolizing the desire to start afresh and leave the past behind.
The Relevance of Basho’s Poetry in the 21st Century
Despite being written centuries ago, Basho’s poetry continues to resonate in the 21st century. His deep connection to nature and the human experience transcends time and cultural boundaries, making his work universally appealing. In a world increasingly consumed by technology and urbanization, Basho’s poetry serves as a reminder of the beauty and simplicity of the natural world, as well as the importance of mindfulness and living in the present moment (Stryk & Ikemoto, 2009).
Furthermore, Basho’s wandering spirit and the sense of journey in his work resonate with the modern reader, as people continue to search for meaning and purpose in their lives. The haiku form, with its concise language and focus on capturing the essence of a moment, is also well-suited to the fast-paced, information-driven world of the 21st century, where attention spans are shorter and brevity is often valued (Hass, 1994).
In conclusion, Matsuo Basho’s life and work continue to have a lasting impact on the world of poetry and beyond. His haiku, rooted in the beauty of nature and the human experience, remain relevant and inspiring in the 21st century, providing a timeless connection to the natural world and the eternal human search for meaning and understanding.
References:
Hass, R. (1994). The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, and Issa. New York: The Ecco Press.
Stryk, L., & Ikemoto, T. (2009). On Love and Barley: Haiku of Basho. London: Penguin Classics.
Ueda, M. (1992). Basho and His Interpreters: Selected Hokku with Commentary. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
