Basho's Haiku: Selected Poems of Matsuo Basho PDF
Preview Basho's Haiku: Selected Poems of Matsuo Basho
Basho¯’s Haiku Basho¯’s Haiku Selected Poems by Matsuo Basho¯ Matsuo Basho¯ Translated by, annotated, and with an Introduction by David Landis Barnhill STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 2004 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207 Production by Kelli Williams Marketing by Michael Campochiaro Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Matsuo Basho¯,1644–1694. [Poems. English. Selections] Basho¯’s haiku : selected poems by Matsuo Basho¯ / translated by David Landis Barnhill. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-6165-3 — 0-7914-6166-1 1. Haiku—Translations into English. 2. Japanese poetry—Edo period, 1600–1868—Translations into English. I. Barnhill, David Landis. II. Title. PL794.4.A227 2004 891.6’132—dc22 2004005954 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 for Phyllis Jean Schuit spruce fir trail up through endless mist into White Pass sky C o n t e n t s Preface ix Selected Chronology of the Life of Matsuo Basho¯ xi Introduction: The Haiku Poetry of Matsuo Basho¯ 1 Translation of the Hokku 19 Notes 155 Major Nature Images in Basho¯’s Hokku 269 Glossary 279 Bibliography 283 Index to Basho¯’s Hokku in Translation 287 Index to Basho¯’s Hokku in Japanese 311 Index of Names 329 vii P r e f a c e “You know, Basho¯ is almost too appealing.” I remember this remark, made quietly, offhand, during a graduate seminar on haiku poetry. I’m not sure the other student even noticed the comment, but it spoke volumes not only about the scholar, but about Basho¯’s impact on Japanese culture and now our own. It was about one hundred years ago that Basho¯ became known in the West through the translations of Basil Hill Chamberlain and, more importantly, the influence on the poet Ezra Pound. That influence expanded in midcentury, with R. H. Blyth’s volu- minous and high quality translations of haiku and the surge of American interest in Japanese culture following World War II. The last fifty years has seen increasing interest in Basho¯ among scholars, poets, nature writers, and environmental philosophers. In this translation of Basho¯’s haiku and the accompanying volume, Basho¯’s Journey: The Literary Prose of Matsuo Basho¯, I offer a collection of his poetry and prose that I hope will help extend that interest and his influence even further. It has been decades in the making, with a numerous people who have impacted it in a variety of ways. Professor Lee Yearley first introduced me to East Asian culture, the study of religion, and the intellectual life. Poets Kenneth Rexroth and Gary Snyder intensified my interest while enriching my perspective. Profes- sors Edwin Good and Susan Matisoff were instrumental to my graduate work on Basho¯, as was Makoto Ueda, whose scholar- ship on Basho¯ has been extraordinarily important. Friends Scott, Jerry, Phil, Zack, and Bill helped ensure the trip would be a long and strange one. My wife, enduring my solitary character and ix
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