Matsuo Basho
1644 - 1694
Matsuo Basho was a Japanese haiku poet and traveler born in 1644 in Ueno, Iga Province, Japan. Basho is widely regarded as one of the greatest haiku poets of all time, and his work helped establish the genre of haiku as a recognized form of poetry in Japan. He is best known for his collection of haiku poems, "The Narrow Road to the Deep North," which was written during a journey through northern Japan in 1689. Basho's work is characterized by its simplicity, observation of nature, and its ability to evoke emotions and feelings through few words. His influence on Japanese poetry and culture continues to this day, and his poems are widely read and appreciated for their beauty, wisdom, and spiritual depth.