Basho's haiku travels through time and spaces, Mabesoone says

Basho statue looking over Sumida river

Basho was a traveller and a time-traveller at the same time, Seegan　Mabesoone says.

Mabesoone is a French haiku poet living in Japan, specializing in Matsuo Basho and Kobayashi Issa. Last weekend, he had a lecture at Basho Museum in Koto-ku, Tokyo.

In Basho's haiku or haikai, Mabesoone says, both passage of time and transition of spaces are often represented in one phrase. Basho walked through space to trace back through history.

There also are implications in his haiku that a travel eventually goes back to what it starts, he says.

According to Mabesoone, it's in contrast with Western culture, which thinks time is something straightforward. But he found a striking similarity in an Arabian Nights story. He says both imply reincarnations.

I know my explanation is not enough at all, but Mr. Mabesoone's lecture was very very interesting. I think his books are must-read for Basho fans.

Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694) : One of the most famous haiku or haikai poets in Japan, known for establishing haiku as a major literature genre. He travelled around Japan many times to make lots of great works.
We have a free English guided tour to Basho Museum and Basho statue.
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