Bashō's Journey: The Literary Prose of Matsuo Bashō

Acknowledgments

A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s Although Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694) was certainly a great poet, his true genius only unfolds in his literary prose. The great theme in his prose is the journey, a path through nature, time, spiritual reality, and one’s life: “Each day is a journey, the journey itself home.” This translation has certainly been a journey, decades in the making, with 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. Professors Edwin Good and Susan Matisoff were instrumental to my graduate work on Bashō, as was Makoto Ueda, whose scholarship on Bashō 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 obsessive work, has been a true companion along the way. Guilford College provided a nourishing environment for someone dedicated to interdisciplinary approaches to learning, and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh now serves as a productive home for such wayfaring. Thanks to Daniel Sattler for assiduous work on the maps. And I am grateful to Nancy Ellegate and the State University of New York Press for their support of this project. ix ...