Matsuo Bashō

Master poet of the Edo period, renowned for haiku and travel literature.

Chronology: 1644 – 1694-11-28

Origins & Early Life

Matsuo Bashō (松尾芭蕉; Japanese pronunciation: [ma.tsɯ.o (|) ba.ɕoː], 1644 – November 28, 1694); born Matsuo Kinsaku (松尾金作), later known as Matsuo Chūemon Munefusa (松尾忠右衛門宗房) was the most famous Japanese poet of the Edo period. During his lifetime, Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form; today, after centuries of commentary, he is recognized as the greatest master of haiku (then called hokku). He is also well known for his travel essays beginning with Records of a Weather-Exposed Skeleton (1684), written after his journey west to Kyoto and Nara. Matsuo Bashō's poetry is internationally renowned, and many of his poems are inscribed on monuments and traditional sites in Japan.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Although Bashō is famous in the West for his hokku, he himself believed his best work lay in leading and participating in renku. As he himself said, "Many of my followers can write hokku as well as I can. Where I show who I really am is in linking haikai verses." Bashō was introduced to poetry at a young age, and after integrating himself into the intellectual scene of Edo (now Tokyo), he quickly became well known throughout Japan. He made a living as a teacher but then renounced...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Source: Wikipedia