Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉

松尾芭蕉 Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)
Haiku poet of the early Edo period. Born in Iga-Ueno. Formerly a member of the Todo clan of Iga-Ueno. He renounced his samurai status and entered the world of the townspeople. In Edo, he learned haikai of the Danrin school, etc., and later developed the haiku style of Sho (Basho style), which had "sabi", "shiori", "hosomi", etc. as its fundamental principles. He established haikai as an art form. He produced many excellent pupils, including the ten haiku poets of the Shomon school, and traveled to many places, leaving behind famous haiku and travelogues. Among his travelogues, "Okunohosomichi (Basho's Narrow Road)" is well known.