Highways at the time of Bashō’s Narrow Road to the Deep North

Highways at the time of Bashō’s Narrow Road to the Deep North

Examples of nanga paintings by Buson

Calligraphy and painting by Buson

Examples of nanga paintings by Buson

Calligraphy and painting by Buson

Examples of nanga paintings by Buson

Calligraphy and painting by Buson

Examples of nanga paintings by Buson

Calligraphy and painting by Buson

Lineages

Teimon School: founded by Matsunaga Teitokuhanded toKitamura Kiginto Bashō (who then creates the Bashō School)

Lineages

Bashō disciples are many. Of those Buson’s lineage is Enomoto Kikaku to Hayano Hajin to Buson, who creates what is called the Tenmei Style ( 天明調 )

Lineages

Issa is distinct from the Bashō-Buson line: Another disciple of Kitamura Kigin is Yamaguchi Sodō and Issa traces back to him. (Blue line)

(winter)9

Inheriting one of our ancestor’s verses

among fallen leavesa frog

growing old

furuike no / kawazu oiyuku / ochiba kanafuruido ya / ka ni tobu uo no / oto kurashi(ushibeya ni / ka no koe kuraki / zansho kana)furuike ni / zōri shizumite / mizore kana

(summer)10

In an old wella fish leaps at mosquitoes—

a sound of darkness

In the cowbarn,the sound of

mosquitoes is dark.Lingering heat.

(winter)11

Straw sandal half sunk in an old

pond in the sleety snow

Old pondFrog jumps inSound of water

Furuike yaKawazu tobi komuMizu no oto

Matsuo Bashō / Yosa BusonRegarding the “Bashō is subjective / Buson is objective” binary:

Bashō’s death poemIll on a journey:

My dreams roam roundOver withered fields

Tabi ni yande yme ha kareno o kakemeguruBuson’s death poem

from now on every night will dawn

with white plum blossomsshiraume ni akuru yo bakari to narinikeru

1

New Yearthe morning light flashesoff the head of a sardine

1

New Yearthe morning light flashesoff the head of a sardine

2

Breaking off a plum branchI bemoan my wrinkled hands.

Fragrance!

3

In a woman’s companyI would go pay my respects at the Royal Palace

by the light of the hazy moon

3

In a woman’s company

I would go pay my respects at the Royal Palace

by the light of the hazy moon

Calligraphy and painting by Buson

3

In a woman’s company

I would go pay my respects at the Royal Palace

by the light of the hazy moon

Calligraphy and painting by Buson

3

In a woman’s company

I would go pay my respects at the Royal Palace

by the light of the hazy moon

Calligraphy and painting by Buson

3

In a woman’s company

I would go pay my respects at the Royal Palace

by the light of the hazy moon

Calligraphy and painting by Buson

4

Gazing across a field

Mist rises from the grasses.With no one to share

of silent waters—this evening dusk!

5

Warm air shimmersA man fondles tenderly

The soil in a straw basket

6

Met Matahei!Omuro in its grandeur.

Met Matahei!Omuro in full bloom.

6

Prose portion:

The scattering of cherry blossoms in the capital is similar to the appearance of chalk white flaking off a painting by Mitsunobu (Crowley trans.)Calligraphy and painting by Buson 1777

This gourd, now empty, was once full of sake.

6

Met Matahei!Omuro in its grandeur.

Have I run into Matabei?Blossoms at Omoruat their height(Crowley trans.)

Calligraphy and painting by Buson

7

As Saga’s lamps grow dim, how sweet the cherry blossom

As Saga’s lamps grow dim, how sweet the cherry blossom

8

Spring night!At my pillow,

The sound of waves.

8

Spring night!At my pillow,The sound of waves.

Calligraphy and painting by Buson

8

Spring night!At my pillow,The sound of waves.

Calligraphy and painting by Buson