Basho and his Narrow Road to the Deep North

Basho's Chronology

1644
Matsuo Basho born at or near Ueno in Iga Province.

1656
His father's death. Probably by this time Basho had entered the service of Todo Yoshitada, a young relative of the feudal lord ruling the area.

1662
Wrote his earliest verse extant today.

1644
Matsuo Basho born at or near Ueno in Iga Province.

1666
Yoshitada's death. Basho resigned and entered a long period of unsettled life. He may have gone to live in Kyoto for a time.

1672
Dedicated The Seashell Game to the shrine in Ueno. Later moved to Edo in search of a new career.

1676
Wrote a pair of hundred-verse renku with another poet in Edo. Paid a brief visit to Ueno in the summer.

1678
Wrote critical commentaries for Haiku Contests in Eighteen Rounds.

1680
Best Poems of Tosei's Twenty Disciples published. Judged "The Rustic Haiku Contest" and "The Evergreen Haiku Contest." Settled in the initial Basho Hut.

1682
The Basho Hut destroyed by fire. He took refuge in Kai Province for a few months.

1683
Shriveled Chestnuts compiled. His mother died in Ueno. New Basho Hut built.

1684-85
Went on a journey that resulted in The Records of a Weather- Exposed Skeleton. In Nagoya he led a team of poets to produce The Winter Sun.

1686
Wrote what is now known as Critical Notes on New Year's Renku.

1687
Traveled to Kashima and wrote A Visit to Kashima Shrine. Judged one of the haiku contests published in The Extending Plain.

1687
Undertook a journey which produced The Records of a Travel- Worn Satchel and A Visit to Sarashina Village.

1688
Returned to Edo in the autumn of 1688.

1689
Journeyed in northern provinces of Honshu. The journey provided material for The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which he completed some time later.

1690
Visited friends and disciples in the Kyoto area. Stayed at the unreal Hut near Lake Biwa for several months during the summer.

1691
Stayed at the House of Fallen Persimmons for a couple of weeks in the summer and wrote The Saga Diary. The Monkey's Cloak published. Returned to Edo toward the end of the year.

1692
The third Basho Hut built. Wrote a haibun about the transplanting of banana trees.

1693
Wrote what is known as Autumn Night Critical Commentaries. Closed his gate and declined to see visitors for a time.

1694
A Sack of Charcoal published. Set out for another long journey in the summer. Fell ill and died in Osaka in early autumn.