松尾芭蕉京都Matsuo Munefusa, better known as Basho (1644-94), was a poet and writer during the early Edo period (1615-1868).
Basho was a samurai until he was 20. From this point, time he devoted his life to poetry.
Basho was the main figure in the development of haiku, a poetic form that contains 17 syllables.
Haiku is primarily concerned with and about nature and is influenced by Zen.
Basho today is best-known for the document of a five-month journey deep into the rural north he took in 1689.
The work, Oku no Hosomichi (Narrow Road to the Deep North), remains beloved to this day in Japan.
His strongest connection to Kyoto is found at Konpukuji Temple (金福寺), pictured above. Within the grounds of the temple is a hut known as Basho-an, in which he composed the poem below. This was the hut in which he resided in the late 1690s. It was restored a century later by Yosa Busan, himself a legendary poet.
More information can be found here.
Details
Konpukuji Temple
20 Saikata-cho Ichijoji Sakyo-ku
Close to the Ichijoji Station on the Eiden Line
TEL: 075 791 1666
For those cycling it is south of Shugakuin Villa.
Even in Kyoto--
hearing the cuckoo's cry--
I long for Kyoto.
A crow
has settled on a bare branch--
autumn evening.
The crane's legs
have gotten shorter
in the spring rain.
Weathered bones
on my mind,
a wind-pierced body.
This road -
no one goes down it,
autumn evening
Another year gone--
hat in hand,
sandals on my feet.
The old pond--
a frog jumps in
sound of water.
The winter sun--
on the horse's back
my frozen shadow.
Seeing people off,
being seen off--
autumn in Kiso.
A cold rain starting
and no hat--
so?
Singing, flying, singing
the cuckoo
keeps busy.
Visiting the graves--
white-haired,
leaning on their canes.
Midnight frost--
I'd borrow
the scarecrow's shirt.
When the winter chrysanthemums go
there's nothing to write about
but radishes.
© CycleKyoto.com
Tags
Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Matsuo Basho
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