基本説明
Translated and with an introduction by David Landis Barnhill.
Full Description
A wonderful new translation of the poetry of Basho—Zen monk, poet of nature, and master of the haiku form.
2005 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title
Basho's Haiku offers the most comprehensive translation yet of the poetry of Japanese writer Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694), who is credited with perfecting and popularizing the haiku form of poetry. One of the most widely read Japanese writers, both within his own country and worldwide, Bashō is especially beloved by those who appreciate nature and those who practice Zen Buddhism. Born into the samurai class, Bashō rejected that world after the death of his master and became a wandering poet and teacher. During his travels across Japan, he became a lay Zen monk and studied history and classical poetry. His poems contained a mystical quality and expressed universal themes through simple images from the natural world.
David Landis Barnhill's brilliant book strives for literal translations of Bashō's work, arranged chronologically in order to show Bashō's development as a writer. Avoiding wordy and explanatory translations, Barnhill captures the brevity and vitality of the original Japanese, letting the images suggest the depth of meaning involved. Barnhill also presents an overview of haiku poetry and analyzes the significance of nature in this literary form, while suggesting the importance of Bashō to contemporary American literature and environmental thought.
Contents
Preface
Selected Chronology of the Life of Matsuo Basho
Introduction: The Haiku Poetry of Matsuo Basho
Translation of the Hokku
Notes
Major Nature Images in Basho's Hokku
Glossary
Bibliography
Index to Basho's Hokku in Translation
Index to Basho's Hokku in Japanese
Index of Names
