Reading Notes W5, Matsuo Basho, Part B

The imagery evoked throughout Matsuo Basho's The Narrow Road to the Deep North when describing his adventures/travels is wonderfully effective, and has provided me with one of my favorite readings thus far. His continuous use of metaphor, simile and imagery are felt throughout the winding transitions from narrative based prose, then into poetry as the transitions are seamless. Focusing on the nature of travel, whether that be in a literal or a figurative sense, he weaves beautiful observations of his journey. Some of the best observations and thoughts are sprung from previous literature Basho has read, while looking back towards historical landmarks that are widely known or formerly touched upon in varying literary works he's encountered. His beautifully sculpted work evokes "the most defining sites of Japanese identity" (617). His descriptions provided a window into these places and areas for all who've read whether they've been themselves of not. His companion later confirms that these observations and poems weren't written during the actual adventure, but afterwords. This fact doesn't dilute the wonderful work in my opinion, he took time to more masterfully describe his adventure afterwards, likely creating a more fulfilling piece to share with his people.

• "Secluded for awhile/in a waterfall--/beginning of summer austerities" (619) One of my favorite verses comparing his time hiding behind the waterfall to the "period in which Buddhist practitioners remained indoors, fasting, reciting scripture, and practicing austerities"
•  "A soft, tranquil landscape, like a beautiful lady powdering her face. Did the god of the mountain create this long ago, in the age of the gods? Is this the work of the Creator? What words to describe this?" (621). Simile used to ponder the creation/beauty of mountains in view while at the shore of Ojima
• "The memorial belonged to the era of the sovereign Shomu. Famous places in poetry have been collected and preserved; but the mountains crumble rivers shift, roads change, rock and buried dirt; trees age, saplings replace them; times change, generations come and go. But here, without a doubt, was a memorial of a thousand years: I was peering into the heart of the ancients. The virtues of travel, the joys of life, forgetting the weariness of travel, I shed only tears . . ." (621). This passage encapsulates what I consider to be many of the central themes of this work. The acknowledgement of changed times, nothing remains the same during our life, yet also appreciating the times somethings does remain. Learn from our own reminders of personal or wider histories. 

Basho, Matsuo. "The Narrow Road to the Deep North." The Norton Anthology of World Literature Volume D. 617-621