Whenever haiku is mentioned, the name Matsuo Basho definitely springs to mind, for Basho (1644-1694) is justifiably regarded as the ‘father’ of haiku, the economical three-line poem that captures moments in nature. It was Basho who transformed haiku into the spare but forceful lyric we recognize today, not only in Japan but throughout the world. This year marks the 380th anniversary of Basho’s birth and this post is a tribute to the master who is not only a great poet but an accomplished artist.
Below you will find a selection of some of Basho’s best known haiku, including the famous ‘frog in the pond’ poem. You will also get to see portions of a rare ink painting by Basho that has been discovered recently and which is now on display in a Kyoto museum.
Selected Haiku of Matsuo Basho
Look! A frog jumping
Into the stillness
Of an ancient pond!
**
Young leaves sprout,
Water is white,
Barley yellowing.
**
The quietness:
A chestnut leaf
Sinks through the clear water.
**
One fell,
Two fell,
– Camellias.
**
Hibiscus flower –
naked I wear one
in my hair.
**
Dew on roses –
the rapeseed flowers’ faces
become envious.
**
In summer rain
the leg of the crane
becomes shorter.
**
On a bare branch
a crow settled down –
autumn evening.
**
In a humble cottage
tea leaves raked up
after the storm.
Special Exhibition: Haiku and Haiga: The Charisma of Two Poets, Bashō and Buson
If you plan to travel to Kyoto sometime soon, this is an exhibition you should not miss. Held at the Saga Arashiyama Museum of Arts & Culture, this special exhibition will run till 19 Jan 2025. Among the works presented are haiku and haiga (paintings depicted alongside haiku), including Basho’s famous frog poem, handwritten by Bashō himself. On display also is an extremely rate ink painting by Basho, part of what is known as the Manuscript Scroll of Nozaraishi Kikō illustrating the last nine months of his travels to the deep north which he completed in 1685. These works are accompanied by haiku and paintings by Yosa Buson, an admirer of Basho and a great haiku poet himself.
Here are snapshots of Basho’s Manuscript Scroll of Nozaraishi Kikō (Journal of a Weather-exposed Skeleton).
Exhibition Poster
