Basho about himself

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- Basho about Basho and his life -

quote
by Jack Galmitz, THF, Periplum 9 :
The tradition of eliminating the “I” from haiku
coincided with the idea (fostered by Blyth, a student of D.T. Suzuki) that haiku was an offshoot of Zen Buddhism and that haiku aimed at enlightenment. While it is true that there were haiku written that purposely were meant as such expressions, haiku generally were not viewed as a medium of such expression.
Basho was not a Buddhist, had minimal understanding of the religion,
and was a poet first and foremost.

- Read more here:
. WKD : I .. the first person .

Basho in Edo - - - Five Portraits
source : hakusyunetto

Basho often writes directly about his own life and situation.
Although the word "I" is not often used in the Japanese language, it is implied in the structure and use of the verb our noun to be understood as the author writing about himself.

There may be too many haiku in this way by Basho, here I will list just a few that come to mind.

Poet centric hokku - - - Thanks to Don Baird for the inspiration of this phrase.
- Matsuo Basho Archives, Facebook -

- - - - -

Basho also writes a lot about the people he meets during his lifetime.
He describes their activities during the seasons, including festivals, food, clothing . . . thus he paints a vivid picture of the Edo period he lived in.
The haiku categories "humanity" and "observances" tell us much about it.
Check the "Cultural Keywords" tab on the right side.

people-centered hokku, people-centric hokku

. - Names of Persons used by Basho .

Some persons he mentions by name,
others he implies by using the name of an animal or a flower for a lady.

There are just too many to even try to list them all.

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発句なり松尾桃青宿の春
hokku nari Matsuo Toosei yado no haru

this is a hokku -
Matsuo Tosei's
home on New Year

Basho using his own name, Basho Toosei 松尾桃青 "Green Peach"
and his thoughts about hokku and haikai
. WKD - Hokku and Haikai 　発句と俳諧 .

死にもせぬ旅寝の果てよ秋の暮
. shini mo senu tabine no hate yo aki no kure .
I am not dead yet - - - shi ni mo senu - shinimosenu -

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Basho uses the expressions WARE - われ /我　 I, myself, me
WAGA　わが /　我が　 - my　
YO 予 me, myself

蕣や是も叉我が友ならず
. asagao ya kore mo mata waga tomo narazu .
(autumn) morning glories. not my friend

花にうき世我が酒白く飯黒し
. hana ni ukiyo waga sake shiroku meshi kuroshi .
(spring) cherry blossoms. floating world. white ricewine. black rice

初時雨初の字を我が時雨哉
. hatsu shigure hatsu no ji o waga shigure kana .
(winter) first winter drizzle. the character "first". my name "Shigure"

人に家を買はせて我は年忘れ
. hito ni ie o kawasete ware wa toshi wasure .
(winter) "forget the year". I make him buy a house.
for . Kawai Otokuni 川井乙州 .

いでや我よき布着たり蝉衣
. ide ya ware yoki nuno kitari semi-goromo .
Thank-you hokku to Sugiyama Sanpu for a new light summer robe.

いざよひもまだ更科の郡哉
. izayoi mo mada Sarashina no koori kana .
I am still in Sarashina

かげろふの我が肩に立つ紙子かな
. kageroo no waga kata ni tatsu kamiko kana .
(spring) heat shimmers. my shoulder. paper robe

香を探る梅に蔵見る軒端哉
. ka o saguru ume ni kura miru nokiba kana .
I gaze at the eaves of the warehouse

君や蝶我や荘子が夢心
. kimi ya cho ware ya Sooji ga yumegokoro .
(spring) butterfly. You are. I am Chuang-tzu.

碪打ちて我に聞かせよ坊が妻
. kinuta uchite ware ni kikase yo ya boo ga tsuma .
Let me hear it too !

こちら向け我もさびしき秋の暮
. kochira muke ware mo sabishiki aki no kure .
I am lonely too. For Kitamuki Unchiku 北向雲竹

見るに我も折れるばかりぞ女郎花
. miru ni ga mo oreru bakari zo ominaeshi .
I will break my vows too. For priest Soojoo Henjoo 僧正遍照 Sojo Henjo

ものひとつ我が世は軽き瓢哉
. mono hitotsu waga yo wa karoki hisago kana .
(summer) gourd flowers, just one possession

夏草や我先達ちて蛇狩らん
. natsukusa ya ware sakidachite hebi karan .
I go first to catch a snake. At Genju-An 幻住庵

猫の恋やむとき閨の朧月
. neko no koi yamu toki neya no oborozuki .
after the cat's love, hazy moonlight in my bedroom

能なしの眠たし我を行々子
nōnashi no nemutashi ware o gyōgyōshi
. noonashi no nemutashi ware o gyoogyooshi .
I have not talent and am tired. Saga Nikki 嵯峨日記

起きよ起きよ我が友にせん寝る胡蝶
. okiyo okiyo waga tomo ni sen neru kochoo .
please become my friend, dear butterfly

酒飲めばいとど寝られぬ夜の雪
. sake nomeba itodo nerarenu yoru no yuki .
when I drink sake I can not sleep

早苗にも我が色黒き日数哉
. sanae ni mo waga iro kuroki hikazu kana .
I am suntanned from many days traveling

涼しさを我が宿にしてねまるなり
. suzushisa o waga yado ni shite nemaru nari .
coolness ad my lodgings

旅人と我が名呼ばれん初時雨
. tabibito to waga na yobaren hatsu shigure .
more haiku from Basho, the Eternal Traveller

旅寝して我が句を知れや秋の風
. tabine shite waga ku o shire ya aki no kaze .
...then you'll know my poems ...

塚も動け我が泣く声は秋の風
. tsuka mo ugoke waga naku koe wa aki no kaze .
... my wailing, my tears ... at the news of the early death of his disciple
Kosugi Isshoo 小杉一笑（こすぎ　いっしょう） Kosugi Issho

うき我をさびしがらせよ閑古鳥
. uki ware o sabishigarase yo kankoodori .
... this sorrowful me . . .

わが衣に伏見の桃の雫せよ
. waga kinu ni Fushimi no momo no shizuku seyo .
(spring) peach blossoms. my robes. peaches of Fushimi, Kyoto.
at Temple Saigan-Ji 西岸寺. for 任口上人 Saint Ninko

我がためか鶴食み残す芹の飯
. waga tame ka tsuru hami-nokosu seri no meshi .
(spring) dropwort. cooked rice. just for me. crane left it over

わが宿は蚊の小さきを馳走かな
. waga yado wa ka no chiisaki o chisoo kana .
(summer) mosquito. my humble home

我も神のひさうや仰ぐ梅の花
. ware mo kami no hisoo ya aogu ume no hana .
(spring) plum blossoms. me too. I look up to god in the blue sky
for Sugawara Michizane 菅原道真

我に似るなふたつに割れし真桑瓜
. ware ni niru na futatsu ni wareshi makuwa uri .
Do not be like me. two halves of a melon
- for his disciple Enomoto Shido Toko 槐本之道 - 東湖

煩へば餅をも喰はず桃の花
. wazuraeba mochi o mo kuwazu momo no hana .
I am so ill, I can't even eat rice cakes

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予が風雅は夏炉冬扇のごとし
yo ga fuuga wa karo toosen no gotoshi

my elegance
is like a fireplace in summer
like a fan in winter
Tr. Gabi Greve

He was referring to himself, his poetical activities were useless compared with the wishes of other people.

MORE discussion of this hokku :
. WKD : fuyu oogi 冬扇 (ふゆおうぎ) "handfan in winter" .

木枯の身は竹斎に似たる哉
. kogarashi no mi wa Chikusai ni nitaru kana .
(winter) winter drizzle. I resemble the shabby doctor Chikusai
a kyooku 狂句 Kyoku, comic verse

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Five Portraits
source : hakusyunetto

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Basho about his thatched hut, Basho-An　芭蕉庵
. iori, an 庵, yado 宿 my humble abode .

Basho about his traveller's hat
. - kasa 笠　hat - .

Basho about his walking stick, cane, staff
. - tsue　杖 walking stick .

Basho about his facial expression : yoogan, yōgan 容顔
. WKD : face - 顔　kao, 面　tsura .

. Basho shedding tears .
- tears 涙 namida - to cry 泣くnaku -

. Basho and his dreams .
- yume 夢　dream -

. Basho drinking green tea 茶 . 　

. Basho about his illness, chronic stomach illness 腹病 fukubyoo .

. - Emotions expressed directly by Basho - .

. MORE Topics used by Basho .
food and regional dishes he enjoyed - - - - - and more on this growing list !

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あの中に蒔絵書きたし宿の月
. ano naka ni maki-e kakitashi yado no tsuki .
I want to draw a maki-e laquer painting

霰聞くやこの身はもとの古柏
. arare kiku ya kono mi wa moto no furugashiwa .
I am the same as before, like an old oak tree

足洗うてつひ明けやすき丸寝かな
. ashi aroote tsui akeyasuki marune kana .
I washed my feet (at the end of a long trip in Akashi)

父母のしきりに恋し雉の声
. chichi haha no shikiri ni koishi kiji no koe .
I long for my dead parents

地に倒れ根に寄り花の別れかな
. chi ni taore ne ni yori hana no wakare kana .
I fall to the ground to bid farewell - for Zen priest 坦堂和尚 Tando

二日にもぬかりはせじな花の春
. futsuka ni mo nukari haseji na hana no haru .
on the second day I won't fail (at temple Hasedera 長谷寺)

冬籠りまた寄りそはんこの柱
. fuyugomori mata yorisowan kono hashira .
I will lean against this pillar

冬の日や馬上に氷る影法師
. fuyu no hi ya bajoo ni kooru kagebooshi .
my shadow is frozen on the horse's back

ごを焚いて手拭あぶる寒さ哉
. go o taite tenugui aburu samusa kana .
I dry my hand towel

愚案ずるに冥土もかくや秋の暮
. guanzuru ni meido mo kaku ya aki no kure / guan zuru .
(autumn) end of autumn. in my humble view . the netherworld

愚に暗く茨を掴む蛍かな
. gu ni kuraku ibara o tsukamu hotaru kana .
foolishly in the darkness I grab a thorn

花の陰謡に似たる旅寝哉
. hana no kage utai ni nitaru tabine kana . I feel myself to be in a Noh play. at Yoshino

半日は神を友にや年忘れ
. hanjitsu wa kami o tomo ni ya toshi wasure .
I spent half a day in the company of the deities

針立や肩に槌打つから衣　
. haritate ya kata ni tsuchi utsu karakoromo .
acupuncture on my shoulder
and this about acupuncture - 月花の愚に針たてん寒の入 -tsuki hana no gu ni hari taten kan no iri

初秋や畳みながらの蚊屋の夜着
. hatsu aki ya tataminagara no kaya no yogi .
my folded mosquito net as my blanket

初花に命七十五年ほど
. hatsu hana ni inochi nanajuu gonen hodo .
I will gain at least 75 years

市人よこの笠売らう雪の傘
. ichibito yo kono kasa uroo yuki no kasa .
(winter) snow. I sell you this hat full of snow.

幾霜に心ばせをの松飾り
. iku shimo ni kokoro baseo no matsukazari .
(New Year) pine decoration. frost. home of Baseo (Basho)

命二つの中に生きたる桜かな
. inochi futatsu no naka ni ikitaru sakura kana .
between our two lives - for Hattori Dohoo 服部土芳 Doho from Iga

歩行ならば杖突坂を落馬哉
. kachi naraba Tsuetsuki-zaka o rakuba kana .
If I had walked, I would not have fallen from the horse

瓶割るる夜の氷の寝覚め哉
. kame waruru yoru no koori no mezame kana .
(winter) ice. water jar. breaking. I wake up

雁聞きに京の秋に赴かん
. kari kiki ni miyako no aki ni omomukan .
I will set out to listen to the geese in the autumn in Kyoto.

暮れ暮れて餅を木魂の侘寝哉
. kure kurete mochi o kodama no wabine kana / kurekurete .
I sleep alone. My desolate sleep.

. kusuri nomu sarademo shimo no makura kana .
(winter) frost on my pillow. I drink medicine but

草臥れて宿借るころや藤の花　
. kutabirete yado karu koro ya fuji no hana .
(spring) wisteria flowers. I am so tired. looking for a lodging

めでたき人の数にも入らむ老の暮
. medetaki hito no kazu ni mo iran oi no kure .
getting older - beyond 42

身にしみて大根からし秋の風
. mi ni shimite daikon karashi aki no kaze .
(autumn) autumn wind. penetrates my body. pungent radish

餅を夢に折り結ふ歯朶の草枕
. mochi o yume ni ori musubu shida no kusa makura .
my pillow stuffed with grass

物いへば唇寒し秋の風
. mono ieba kuchibiru samushi aki no kaze .
my lips are cold when I talk

麦の穂を力につかむ別れ哉
. mugi no ho o chikara ni tsukamu wakare kana .
I clutch to the barley ears to support myself

夏衣いまだ虱をとりつくさず
. natsugoromo imada shirami o tori tsukusazu .
my summer robes sill full with lice

夏かけて名月暑き涼み哉
. natsu kakete meigetsu atsuki suzumi kana .
I feel summer coolness with the autumn full moon

蚤虱馬の尿する枕もと
. nomi shirami uma no bari suru makuramoto .
fleas and lice and a horse pissing near my pillow

思ひ立つ木曽や四月の桜狩り
. omoitatsu Kiso ya shigatsu no sakuragari .
I am resolved, I am ready for cherry blossom hunting in Kiso

扇にて酒くむ陰や散る桜
. oogi nite sake kumu kage ya chiru sakura .
(spring) cherry blossoms. my hand fan. I pretend to drink sake

近江蚊帳汗やさざ波夜の床
. Oomi-gaya ase ya sazanami yoru no toko .
my sweat, my bed at night, mosquito net from Omi

五月雨や蚕煩ふ桑の畑　
. samidare ya kaiko wazurau kuwa no hata .
Basho compares himself to an ill silkworm

関守の宿を水鶏にとをふもの　
. sekimori no yado o kuina ni toou mono .
I ask for the home of the barrier guard.

せつかれて年忘するきげんかな
. setsukarete toshi wasure suru kigen kana .
I feel great at the year-end party

しばし間も待つやほととぎす千年
. shibashi ma mo matsu ya hototogi su sennen .
I wait only for a short while

白髪抜く枕の下やきりぎりす
. shiraga nuku makura no shita ya kirigirisu .
white hair under my pillow

城跡や古井の清水まづ訪はん
. shiro-ato ya furu-i no shimizu mazu towan .
I will seek pure well water first

須磨寺やふかぬ笛きく木下やみ
. Sumadera ya fukanu fue kiku koshita yami .
I listen to a flute nobody plays at temple Sumadera 須磨寺

旅烏古巣は梅になりにけり
. tabigarasu furusu wa ume ni nari ni keri .
"traveling crow" (Basho about himself). old nest

旅に飽きてけふ幾日やら秋の風　
. tabi ni akite kyoo ikuka yara aki no kaze .
I am tired of traveling . . .

年の市線香買ひに出でばやな
. toshi no ichi senkoo kai ni idebayana .
I go out to buy some incense

月十四日今宵三十九の童部
. tsuki juuyokka koyoi sanjuu ku no warabe .
tonight I am a child of 39

月雪とのさばりけらし年の暮
. tsuki yuki to nosabari kerashi toshi no kure .
I have indulged myself in "moon and snow"

鶴鳴くやその声に芭蕉破れぬべし
. tsuru naku ya sono koe ni bashoo yarenu beshi .
the voice of a crane will tear a banana plant leaf

埋火や壁には客の影法師　
. uzumi-bi ya kabe ni wa kyaku no kagebooshi .
my shadow like a visitor on the wall

宿りせん藜の杖になる日まで
. yadorisen akaza no tsue ni naru hi made .
(summer) pigweed Chenopodium album. I would lodge here. goosefoot grows a staff

山陰や身を養はん瓜畠
. yamakage ya mi o yashinawan uribatake .
I nourish my body in the mountain cove (at Inaba yama), taking a rest

雪の朝独リ干鮭を噛み得タリ　
. yuki no ashita hitori karazake o kami etari .
Here Basho uses the word HITORI, I am alone, eating dry salmon

行く秋や身に引きまとふ三布蒲団
. yuku aki ya mi ni hikimatou mino-buton .
I wrap my body in a narrow bedding matress

湯の名残り今宵は肌の寒からん
. yu no nagori koyoi wa hada no samukaran .
tonight my skin will not feel cold - at Yamanaka Hot Spring 山中温泉
- - - - - and
湯の名残り幾度見るや霧のもと - yu no nagori iku tabi miru ya kiri no moto
I look back many times

夕顔や酔うて顔出す窓の穴
. yuugao ya yoote kao dasu mado no ana .
I am drunk (Basho about himself)

座頭かと人に見られて月見哉　/ zatō
. zatoo ka to hito ni mirarete tsukimi kana . 座頭 zatō
I appear like a blind man to people

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. - shirazu, shiranu 知らず/　知らぬ　- I do not know - .

. - kokoro こころ　－　心　 "heart", mind, soul - .

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散る柳あるじも我も鐘を聞く
chiru yanagi aruji mo ware mo kane o kiku

我が宿の淋しさ思へ桐一葉
waga yado no sabishisa omoe kiri hitoha

- - - - - details of these two hokku are here
. WKD : I .. the first person - ich selbst.

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WKD - Matsuo Basho Archives

23/06/2012

Basho about himself