Basho

Poet, Author

1644 – 1694

53

Who was Basho?

Matsuo Bashō, born Matsuo Kinsaku, then Matsuo Chūemon Munefusa, was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. 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. His poetry is internationally renowned, and in Japan many of his poems are reproduced on monuments and traditional sites. Although Bashō is justifiably famous in the West for his hokku, he himself believed his best work lay in leading and participating in renku. He is quoted as saying, “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, he quickly became well known throughout Japan. He made a living as a teacher, but renounced the social, urban life of the literary circles and was inclined to wander throughout the country, heading west, east, and far into the northern wilderness to gain inspiration for his writing. His poems were influenced by his firsthand experience of the world around him, often encapsulating the feeling of a scene in a few simple elements.

Famous Quotes:

  • A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends.

We need you!

Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!

Born
1644
Ueno, Mie
Also known as
  • Matsuo Bashō
  • Matsuo Basho
  • Bashō Matsuo
  • Basho Matsuo
  • Bashō Matsuo
  • Sōbō
  • Tōsē
  • Bashō
Parents
Siblings
Nationality
  • Japan
Profession
Died
Nov 28, 1694
Osaka

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Basho." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/matsuo_basho>.

Discuss this Basho biography with the community:

0 Comments

    Browse Biographies.net