Matsuo Basho

Bashô as seen in an ukiyo-e print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

• Born: 1644
• Died: 1694
• Japanese: 松尾芭蕉 (Matsuo Bashou)

Matsuo Bashô stands as one of the greatest - if not greatest - of Japan's haiku composers. A samurai turned wandering priest, Bashô wrote a book called 'The Narrow Road of Oku' (Oku no hosomichi) and many of his poems remain well-known in Japan - and around the world.

References

• Initial text from Samurai-Archives.com FWSeal & CEWest, 2005