The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches

In his perfectly crafted haiku poems, Basho described the natural world with great simplicity and delicacy of feeling. When he composed The Narrow Road to the Deep North he was a serious student of Zen Buddhism setting off on a series of travels designed to strip away the trappings of the material world and bring spiritual enlightenment. He wrote of the seasons changing, of the smell of the rain, the brightness of the moon and the beauty of the waterfall, through which he sensed the mysteries of the universe. These travel writings not only chronicle Basho's perilous journeys through Japan, but they also capture his vision of eternity in the transient world around him

Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694) was a renowned Japanese poet and master of the haiku form, known for his deep appreciation of nature, simplicity, and spiritual introspection. His poetry captures the essence of moments, often with a Zen-like sensibility, and emphasizes the beauty of ordinary life. Bashō's most famous work, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, chronicles his travels across Japan and is celebrated for its blend of poetry and prose. His legacy has profoundly shaped Japanese literature and the art of haiku.