Matsuo Munefusa, alias Basho (1644-94), was a Japanese poet and writer during the early Edo period. He took his pen name Basho from his basho-an, a hut made of plantain leaves, to where he would withdraw from society for solitude. Born of a weathy family, Basho was a Samurai until the age of 20, at which time he devoted himself to his poetry. Basho was a main figure in the development of haiku, and is considered to have written the most perfect examples of the form. His poetry explores the beauties of nature and are influenced by Zen Buddhism, which lends itself to the meditative solitude sensed in his haiku. He traveled extensively throughout his lifetime. His 1689 five-month journey deep into the country north and west of Edo provided the insight for his most famous work Oku no hosomichi (Narrow Road to the Deep North). This great work was posthumoustly published in 1702 and is still read by most Japanse high school students.

Interestingly, in 1996 an article in AsiaWeek claimed in the original manuscript of The Narrow Road to the Deep North was found in the library of an Osaka bookseller. It appears the manuscript was discovered after an earthquake. A scholar spent 6 years studying the work before declaring a 99% certainty that the manuscript was authentic. Read an article published on Stone Bridge Press.

Old pond
a frog jumps in
the sound of water

Evening rain:
the basho
speaks of it first

I go
and you remain
two autumns

With what kind of voice
would the spider cry
in the autumn wind?

drinking morning tea
the monk is peaceful
the chrysanthemum blooms

Falling ill while on a journey,
I still wander around the wilderness,
in my dreams

Walking with canes
one grey-haired family
is visiting graves

Exhausted I sought
a country inn, but found
wisteria in bloom

Travelling this high
mountain trail, delighted
by violets

Your song caresses
the depths of lonliness,
O high mountain bird