Basho Interpretations
I am currently reading a book by Makoto Ueda entitled Basho and his Interpreters. The
author, at the time of publication, was Professor of Asian Studies at Stanford University.
I believe he is now retired. The book contains 255 selected hokku by Basho with an
interpretive translation by Makoto Ueda, followed by the romanized original and word-
for-word translation. Notes with some of the poems give background such as date and
place of composition, and explanations of some Japanese words where it was felt they
were needed. Some poems have a "headnote" that was written by Basho in his journal,
with the poem below. Commentaries are provided through remarks by a total of 78
Japanese poets, authors, critics, and some of Basho's students.
What I am presenting here is one hokku in the format outlined above as presented in that
book. (Don't fret, there are only 7 of the commentators presented here.) Everything
between the asterisks is excerpted from Makoto Ueda's book. I am presenting this excerpt
without any comment of my own except to say that reading this book has been very
informative and, if you will, enlightening on a whole range of subjects.
soji
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Headnote:
Expressing how I feel
on this road
where nobody else travels
autumn nightfall
kono | michi | ya | yuku | hito | nashi | ni | aki | no | kure
this | road | : | go | person | nonexistent | with | autumn | s | evening
Note:
The opening verse of a half-kasen composed at an Osaka restaurant on November 13.
Commentery:
While singing of the loneliness of autumn, the poet deplored the scarcity of people
following the way of haiki. - Shogatsudo
This poem is more symbolic than allegorical. The instant we visualize the scene
presented in it, we are struck by what Basho had in mind. - Komiya
"This road" is a conceptual road that is all-inclusive. It is real, and yet ultimately it
transcends reality. It is not as limited or identifiable as the road of haikai to which Basho
dedicated his entire life. - Handa
Sometimes we see a road without any passers-by and that sight makes us realize how
utterly lonely our life is. This hokku seems to embody loneliness of that kind, only more
refined in quality by going through Basho's mind. - Saisei
"This road" is not a road leading to a bright future. Standing at the "autumn nightfall" of
his life, Basho looked back to the road he had trodden. Thereupon it occurred to himthat
he had always been alone, that he would also be alone in the future, and that was what
fate had given him. - Yamamoto
An artists road is ultimately a lonely one. The greater the artist, the greater the distance
between himself and the mass. - Imoto
For the aged and ailing poet, the road led straight to the nether world. Surely this poem
pictures Basho walking away all alone into that twilight. - Miyamoto
Copies of this book, in it's entirety, are available through Amazon.com
Basho, a childrens story